On Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, Plymouth-Whitemarsh seniors Kavon Johnson, Russhon Phillips and Kenny Williams were recognized at a special news conference for signing letters of intent to play collegiate football. To view photos of the signing ceremony, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Russhon Phillips – Lehigh University (Football)
Major: Biology
Final list of colleges: Lehigh, Lafayette, Villanova, West Chester
Reasons for choosing Lehigh: “Lehigh was always my number one just because of the tradition they have and the success of the program along with the prestigious academic program they have. When I went to take my visit, that was all I needed to finalize my decision to get a feel for the people and how great the environment was.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I always had aspirations ever since I was little. It’s every little kid’s dream to make it to the NFL but first is college. I always wanted to play at a high level or at least the highest level I could after high school. Ever since my freshman year once I got put on the real track of football and how it works and the system, I put all my efforts into making it into a great university like Lehigh.”
Coach Dan Chang says: “Russhon is the total package. He’s the guy we like to model our program around. We ask him to be 1) a great student, 2) a great teammate, 3) a great leader and 4) a great athlete and a great football player, and he’s been able to do that successfully for the past two years while I’ve been with him. Every time he steps onto the field he’s one of the most athletic kids out there, but what a lot of people don’t see is he’s also one of the smartest kids out there. We put so much on him during the season. He was able to take all that in stride and excel with all that responsibility on him. He was undoubtedly our biggest leader on the team.
“People would look up to him because of his work ethic and because of the way he carried himself on and off the field. He was always the first one in the weight room, the last one out of the weight room. He was the guy leading the running sessions, making sure everybody was pushing themselves to be the best that they could. Our team modeled after that, and a lot of it had to do with his character and, again, how he carried himself on and off the field.”
About Russhon:
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite food: Chicken parmesan
Favorite music: Drake
Kavon Johnson – West Chester University (Football)
Major: Criminal Justice
Final list of colleges: West Chester, California (Pa.), IUP, Shippensburg, Kutztown, Millersville
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “It was just like a family atmosphere. All the players were really nice, and they all welcomed me with open arms. It was never like, ‘You have to come to this school.’ It was always – they told me the pluses, and they told me the minuses about the school, and that’s what I liked. They were real. They didn’t try to sugarcoat anything. They told me the good and the bad, not just the good. A lot of the great players from the area are committing to West Chester, and I was talking to the coach, and he said this was the best recruiting class since ’04.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I always thought about playing in college. Ever since I started playing football in middle school, I always had the desire to play collegiate football.
“When I got to my sophomore year, I started to physically develop, and that’s when it started becoming a reality. My coaches would say, ‘You can play college football. Just get your grades right, and you’ll be good.’”
Coach Dan Chang says: “Kavon is that ‘X’ factor for us on the offensive and especially defensive lines. On the football field, he was a guy teams couldn’t block one-on-one, and it really messed things up for opposing team’s offenses because they would have to double or triple team him, and that freed up a lot of our linebackers. Even though his stats might not be mind blowing - in the scheme of our team defense, he was the key to us being successful.
“He has grown up significantly over the last two years that I’ve known him and has turned into a genuinely hard working team player, and I’m very proud of what he’s been able to accomplish. He’s gotten his priorities straight with his academics. He’s turned into a great student. His talent on the football field was never a question. He’s also one of our captains, and his play this year and his attitude was definitely a reflection of how good we were.”
About Kavon:
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite food: My grandmom’s curry chicken
Music: 2 Chainz
Kenny Williams – West Chester University (Football)
Major: Undecided but possibly psychology
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Kutztown
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “I didn’t even go visit Kutztown. Once I visited West Chester – I just loved how the people were there, and the coaches made me fit in like a family, so I just chose that.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “My freshman year it was between basketball and football. I always had the same love for the game. Last year, my junior year it hit me that football was my sport, and basketball would have to wait. I just love football.
“For me, I think the recruiting part was difficult because I didn’t get as much fame as everybody else did. After my senior year, that’s when a lot of colleges started contacting me.”
Coach Dan Chang says: “Kenny is a four-year starter for us. He was the spirit of our defense. He was a guy who we kind of gave a little bit more free rein to, and he was able to create some things on his own. Kenny is an emotional leader for our team. Everybody likes him on the team. All the kids like him, all the kids look to him, and we could always count on him being in the right place and doing the right thing. He was one of those guys who we didn’t have to worry about because we knew he was doing what he needed to do.
“His junior year, Kenny had unbelievable statistics in terms of tackles, and this year he didn’t have as much, but that was because our defense was better as a whole. When your free safety doesn’t have as many tackles, that’s usually better for your team. Kenny is a guy who also takes care of his academics off the field and has put himself in a great situation here.”
About Kenny:
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite food: Chicken cheesesteaks
Favorite music: ‘Lil Wayne
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