The BYU Cougars kick off the 2025 season in 13 days against Portland State. As we continue counting down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 13 -- redshirt sophomore wide receiver Josiah "Jojo" Phillips -- by providing three interesting, fun facts:
Fun fact No. 1 - He was a Top 100 prospect in California
Given the state's massive size, California regularly churns out scores of talented high school football players. In the class of 2023, Jojo Phillips was among the Top 100 the state produced that year. Rated a high three-star recruit with an 87 rating from 247 Sports, the 6-foot-5 receiver was the No. 99 player coming out of the Golden State.
Fun fact No. 2 - He's going to build on a solid 2024 campaign
During his redshirt freshman season in 2023, Phillips appeared in three games for the Cougars with one reception for five yards, and his lone catch happened to be a touchdown.
In 2024 as a redshirt freshman, Phillips found his groove in Aaron Roderick's offense. Last year he appeared in all 13 games and recorded 10 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns. His 21.1 yards per catch average was bolstered by a 57-yard touchdown against Southern Illinois.
Phillips got better as the season progressed last year. Once Big 12 play started he had just one reception through BYU's first five conference games. But in the team's ninth game against rival Utah he had two receptions for 41 yards. Two games later he had two receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown against Arizona State followed by a 40-yard reception against Houston.
After the departures of Darius Lassiter and Keelan Marion, Jojo Phillips should start this year and he could have a 500-plus yard season if BYU's quarterback can find his legs sooner rather than later.
Fun fact No. 3 - He played high school hoops with Bronny James
Jojo played high school basketball with Bronny James at Sierra Canyon. When the Los Angeles Lakers traveled to Salt Lake City to face the Jazz last season, Bronny had the best game of his rookie season and gave his jersey to Jojo after the game.
Bronny gave his jersey to former high school basketball teammate, BYU WR Jojo Phillips.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) February 13, 2025
Also at the game from BYU Football - Jake Retzlaff, Weylin Lapuaho, Bruce Mitchell, Keanu Tanuvasa, Tre Alexander, Keelan Marion & Elijah Crawford from BYU MBB. pic.twitter.com/MzXuXhQrwx