NFL Draft picks 2015: Jordan Phillips taken by Dolphins at No. 52

With the No. 52 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected defensive tackle Jordan Phillips of Oklahoma. Phillips was one of the top prospects in the nation out of high school, but his first years of college were limited by too few starting opportunities and a significant back injury in 2013.

But Phillips got his real chance to shine in 2014, when he started in all 13 games for Oklahoma and was selected as a second-team All-Big 12 player. Phillips fits the mold of a space-eating run stuffer in the middle of a 3-4 defense. He dealt with his fair share of double teams in college, but he became proficient at splitting the blockers and making his way into the backfield.

Phillips ran a 5.17-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, put up 28 reps on the bench press and recorded a 105-inch broad jump. None of his numbers were among the best at his position, but he’s one of the more physically gifted defensive linemen in this year’s draft.

If there’s any big complaint about Phillips, it’s that he’s a little raw and a streaky player. If he starts to get taken out of a game by a dominant lineman, he’ll stay out and rarely gets back on his feet at that point. He’s got the talent and the physical tools to come in and play early and often, but he will need to work on his consistency at the next level.