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Keenan Phillips, former Region Player of the Year for the Bainbridge Bearcats football program, was named to the second-team All-American offense as a running back by the National Junior College Athletics Associations following his impressive freshman campaign at Georgia Military College. 

“I was happy; it showed all the hard work before the season,” Keenan Phillips said. “In the weight room, film room, and on the field all translated.”

Phillips will further his academic and athletic career at the University of South Alabama. He also had offers from Eastern Michigan, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, University of Alabama Birmingham, and Western Kentucky. 

Phillips committed to the University of South Alabama due to the family bond from their coaching staff and the alluring opportunity to play right away and contribute to the running back room. 

South Alabama lost standout running backs Braylon McReynolds and De’Marion Bothwell to the transfer portal. However, the team will pair Phillips’ with returning starter Kentrel Bullock and reserves PJ Martin and Jarvis Durr. 

“The coaches were focused on being a tight-knit family, and I could see myself running their offensive style. The position room itself had lost a couple of guys, and I felt I had a better chance to play than any other schools (that were offered).” 

Phillips made an unforgettable college debut by scoring three touchdowns, highlighted by a thrilling 90-yard kickoff return in a win over Jireh Prep. Phillips’ standout performance earned him the Week 1 Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the Bulldogs, and it only got brighter. He had a monster performance in week seven. He was named NJCAA Football Offensive Player of the Week after a 19 carry, 187 rushing yards, and two touchdown performance averaging 9.84 yards per carry. 

During his one-year stint at GMC for the 2024 season, he rushed the ball 115 times for 868 yards and 19 touchdowns.

He averaged 40.8 yards on four kick returns while also catching 12 passes out of the backfield for 219 yards. 

“I give credit to the weight room and coaches putting in plays for myself to execute and show off my skill set,” Phillip said. 

 It’ll be a unique occasion and time for the Phillips family, as Keenan and Braylon Phillips will play Division I football simultaneously. Last month, Braylon committed to playing football at Charleston Southern University. 

“It’s cool; he’s worked hard to reach this point. I’m so proud of him,” Keenan said. “Maybe sometime in the future, we might be playing against each other or with each other. Only time can tell.”