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DB, 6'2, 165, 4.4
Lake Butler, FL
Nickname: P-Body
High School: Union County
HS Number: 1
AL Number: 1?
Official Visits: Alabama
Second Choice: Auburn and Florida
Host During Alabama Visit: Andrew Zow
Committed: January 21, 1998
Roommate To Be: Andrew Zow
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Tackles
Interceptions
HS Senior Season
Tackles
Interceptions
Honors
- Two-time All-Distirct
- All-State
- Team's Most Dedicated Player
- GA-FL All-Star Game
Stories
"I’ve Always Been Alabama"
Phillip Weeks is a rarity. He was born and raised just 30 minutes from the University of Florida campus. But he’s a lifelong Alabama fan.
"I’ve always been Alabama," Phillip says. "When they beat Miami for the championship, I was glued to the TV. I was going wild when George Teague ran down Lamar Thomas."
What is even more unusual is that Phillip’s brother, Adrian Weeks, is a redshirt freshman at Auburn.
"Some people thought that it would be an opportunity of a lifetime for me to go play with my brother at Auburn," Phillip says. "But I think it’s an opportunity of a lifetime to play for Alabama."
That’s the spirit!
He’s a P-Body
As a HS freshman Phillip Weeks was just 5’7, 114 pounds. No wonder he got the nickname "P-Body."
"The word football wasn’t even part of my vocabulary," Phillip says. "I was so much smaller than all the rest of the kids it wasn’t even funny."
As a tenth-grader Phillip watched his brother Adrian help Union County to their second consecutive state title. Watching Adrian gave Phillip an idea, an idea that his mother didn’t like.
"He was just so skinny that I thought he’d get hurt," Mrs. Weeks says. "But he kept saying, ‘Momma, I can do it.’ So, I finally gave in."
His junior year Phillip went out for the team and, unbelievably, earned a starting position. As a 6’1, 160-pound free safety Phillip made 50 tackles and six interceptions. Union County captured it’s third consecutive state championship.
Mom was finally convinced that her skinny son could do it.
"I didn’t worry about him anymore," Mrs. Weeks says. "He’s a lot tougher than he looks."
Phillip now stands 6’3 and weighs 165 pounds. He had gotten up to 175 but the additional weight melted off during basketball season.
Next season he’ll probably redshirt and try to gain some weight -- if that’s possible.
"The Alabama coaches say that they will put some weight on him," Mrs. Weeks says. "I told them good luck. I’ve been trying to put weight on that boy for 18 years and have failed."
Phillip is optimistic that he’ll get bigger. He points to his brother Adrian as an example.
"When Adrian went to Auburn last summer he weighed about 175 or 180. Now he’s 210. I think I can be 190 or 200 in a year."
But until then he’s still a "P-Body".
On The Recruiting Trail …
The Tradition
Do prospects get caught up in the Alabama tradition? Just ask Phillip Weeks.
Weeks officially visited Alabama on the weekend of January 9th. Joining him on the flight to Tuscaloosa was Pascagoula DB Reggie Myles.
"The whole way up there all Reggie was talking about was Florida," Weeks says. "He said that he was probably going to go to Florida."
But after a visit to Bryant-Denny Stadium and the Alabama locker room Reggie had a drastic change of heart.
"They let us put on an Alabama jersey that had our high school number on it," Weeks recalls. "When Reggie put on his jersey he just lit up. He was so excited he that he committed on the spot."
And what about Phillip Weeks?
"I’ve been in locker rooms at places like Florida State, Florida and Auburn," he says. "And there’s no place like Alabama."
Tidbits
- Phillip has been selected to play in the prestigious Georgia-Florida All-Star game this summer. The game will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
- One of the honors Phillip is most proud of was being named Union County’s Most Dedicated Player during his junior season. That Union County team included Gerard Warren and Bennie Alexander, who are now at Florida; Andrew Zow, who’s now at Alabama; and Phillip’s brother, Adrian Weeks, who’s now at Auburn.
- During Phillip’s two years as a starter, Union County went 27-1 and captured a state title.
- Phillip has been a three-year starter for the Union County basketball team. During his career he’s averaged 13 ppg and 6 rpg.
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Q&A
TI: Was it difficult to turn down an opportunity to go to Auburn and play with your brother?
PW: Not really. I’ve been with Adrian for 18 years. He’s my brother and I love him. But now I want to play against him.
TI: Speaking of playing against Adrian, how will your family react during the Alabama-Auburn game every year?
PW: My mom says that she’s going to wear something with half of Alabama’s colors and half of Auburn’s. She says that she’s going to watch the game and not get too excited one way or the other.
TI: The only official visit you took was to Alabama in early January. Why didn’t you visit Auburn or Florida?
PW: There were three reasons. First, I had some schedule conflicts because I play basketball. Second, I had been to Auburn and Florida many times unofficially. I knew all about them. Third, after I took the visit to Alabama I knew that’s where I was going. There was no need to visit anywhere else.
TI: How influential was Andrew Zow in your choosing Alabama?
PW: Andrew is my best friend in the world. We’re going to room together. He basically told me that he is very happy at Alabama and that was it. I liked Alabama regardless of who was there.
TI: If you had to point to a single reason for choosing Alabama what would it be?
PW: Coach Charlie Harbison. We just really connected. There was a bond there that I can’t explain. Coach Harbison is a great coach and just as good a person. He’s a man of God. He preaches Christian values. He’s just the kind of person I want to play for.
TI: Now let’s talk about you as a player. Tell us a little about yourself.
PW: People look at me and assume that I’m a finesse player because of my size. They’re wrong. I’m a very aggressive and physical player. A lot of people do not realize that as a senior I played outside linebacker. Coach [Robby] Pruitt wanted me up close to the line because I play the run so well. [Editor’s note: Last season Phillip was his team’s second-leading tackler.]
TI: So will you play strong safety or free safety at Alabama?
PW: In Coach Harbison’s scheme I’ll play both. In his scheme the safeties play half the field. So if they line up strong to my half of the field, I’ll be like the strong safety. If they line up weak to my side, I’ll take free-safety responsibilities. That may change some depending on the defense, but that’ll be the way it is most of the time.
TI: You said that you play the run well. What about your coverage skills?
PW: Coverage is no problem. I’ve got the good speed and athletic ability to line up and cover most anyone. [Editors note: Phillip says that he runs a 4.4. In two seasons he had 12 INTs.]
TI: Phillip, we’re asking all of your fellow signees if they believe Alabama will experience a turnaround in the near future. What do you think?
PW: Let me tell you something. We had a great recruiting class and there are some great young players already at Alabama. We will be contenders in the SEC next season. I don’t want to look too far into the future, but I think it’s going to get real interesting for Alabama the next few years. Anytime you have pride and tradition like Alabama, you’ll bounce back from 4-7 in a big way.
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