Stanford’s Phillips entering NFL draft
Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips made it official, announcing Thursday via Twitter that he is entering the NFL draft.
The redshirt junior, listed at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, led the Cardinal this season in tackles with 103, tackles for loss with 17 and sacks with 7.5.
Florida State’s Josh Sweat will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft. The 6-foot-5, 253-pound defensive lineman led the Seminoles in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (12.5).
Oklahoma left tackle Orlando Brown is entering the NFL draft, in which he is projected as a high first-round pick.
The 6-8, 345-pound redshirt junior was a first-team AllAmerican this season and an Outland Trophy finalist. Brown’s late father, Orlando Sr., played for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Coaching carousel: Texas A&M has hired Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko to coach Jimbo Fisher’s defense.
Texas A&M announced the hiring a few hours after Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly posted on Twitter that Elko had accepted an offer to be the Aggies’ defensive coordinator. Elko was at Notre Dame for one season and the Fighting Irish defense took a big step forward, from 5.40 yards per play allowed (45th in the nation) to 5.05 (25th). He spent the previous three seasons at Wake Forest.
Texas A&M tried to hire Dave Aranda from LSU, but he chose to stay with the Tigers and signed a four-year deal worth $10 million Wednesday night. Aranda is the first FBS assistant to make more than $2 million per year.
A person with knowledge of the decision said Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is leaving the Cougars and joining Ohio State as an assistant coach. Grinch, an Ohio native who played at Division III powerhouse Mount Union, has been with Washington State since 2015.
Duke addition: Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said offensive lineman Jack Wohlabaugh is transferring to the Blue Devils after two seasons with Ohio State. Wohlabaugh will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2019. He did not appear in any games in his two seasons with the Buckeyes but was a four-star prospect in high school.