Football was never initially a part of Brandon Phelpsβ life plans. OK, so technically it was, but it wasnβt American football.
It was fΓΊtbol.
The future Arizona wide receiver and 2024 commit didnβt play βfootballβ until he was a freshman at American Leadership Academy in Gilbert.
βMy dad always made me play soccer. I had always been a soccer kid. I played soccer for 14 years. I just never liked football and never enjoyed it until my dad made me play,β Phelps said. βHe literally forced me to play and I just did not like it. Then I ended up seeing the talent God gave me and I started to be more content with playing football.
βOver the years, Iβve learned to love being with football and itβs definitely loved me back. Now I have the opportunity not a lot of people have to go play at the collegiate level and have my school paid for. My dreams and aspirations can be succeeded from playing football. Itβs kind of crazy.β
Phelps unearthed his talents as a wide receiver prior to one of ALAβs playoff games in 2020, when he told one of the Eaglesβ coaches about his alter ego, βPlayoff Brandon.β
In a one-point loss to Snowflake in the Class 3A semifinals, Phelps had 10 catches for 105 yards as a freshman β and βMossβd the crap out of this one guy,β he said (a reference to Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss). Phelps concluded his high school career as a state record-holder for most career receiving yards (4,475), touchdowns (60) and receptions (271).
βIt flipped a mentality in me,β Phelps said. βEver since I said βPlayoff Brandon,β every single year, Iβve played absolutely insane.
βIt was all a mentality thing. Once I understood football better, I was like, βMan I love this sport.β I always tell my dad, βI wish I played when I was little, because I wouldβve understood it a little bit more instead of you just making me play.ββ
The following summer, once Arizonaβs new coaching staff under leader Jedd Fisch settled in Tucson, Phelps carried ALA to a championship at the UAβs annual 7-on-7 event.
βWe were beating all of these 6A teams and we got to the championship and won the whole thing,β Phelps said. βI played really well. (Arizona wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings) was telling us congratulations and talking to our entire team, and he stood me up and said, βYou have a scholarship here.β I was like, βWow, thatβs crazy,β because I didnβt know anything about that stuff.β
Since then, βIβve been super close with them for about three years now,β Phelps said.
He called committing to Arizona was βa no-brainerβ decision.
βThe direction of the program, theyβre going in the completely right direction. Two years ago, they went 1-11 and now theyβre 9-3 about to beat Oklahoma in the bowl game,β he said. βYou canβt ask for much more, you know? Iβm glad they were loyal to me, stuck with me, and Iβm glad that I stuck with them. Iβve been committed to them for about a year and Iβve had no regrets committing early or anything. I know thatβs where I need to go to be successful.β
The 6-3, 190-pound Phelps, who will sign with Arizona during next weekβs early signing period and join the team in the spring as an early enrollee, spoke with ESPN Tucsonβs βSpears and Aliβ about becoming a Wildcat, the UAβs in-state commits for 2024 and Arizonaβs βwinning state of mind.β Hereβs what he said:
How do you see yourself fitting in at Arizona?
A: βArizonaβs receiving corps has a lot of talent and I feel like I have a lot of talent. Being behind someone as smart and witty as Coach Cummings is always great. Iβm just excited to get there and learn. Iβm just ready to take in what I havenβt learned and use it on the field.β
How is Cummings as a receivers coach?
A: βTechnically I havenβt seen him from the coaching side. Iβm sure there are things I havenβt seen. But as a person, heβs very great. Heβs s great man, super funny, very personable and you can talk to him, itβs easy. Iβm sure heβs great as a coach. As you can see, he coaches very well. Iβm just excited to get down there and be coached by him.β
After visiting several times for practices and games, what are your impressions of the UA?
A: βI love the fact that the U of A is in a college town. All Tucson has is the U of A, so itβs the most hyped thing when you get there. I love going to the games because thereβs so much energy around the school, and thatβs kind of what I love the most about the U of A: everyone is bought into the program and now that theyβre winning games, it just makes it 10 times better. Weβre just going to keep winning games when this next class gets here. Thereβs nothing better than having everyone on your side and the energy in the stadium.β
Thereβs six in-state commits for Arizona in 2024, including three Ed Doherty Award finalists between yourself, four-star Chandler Basha quarterback Demond Williams and Glendale Apollo star running back Adam Mohammed; do you have a relationship with them?
A: βIβm super close with a lot of them. Me and Adam are always texting. A couple of guys I play Fortnite with them on X-Box. We just have fun and weβre already getting chemistry before we get there. This class is great. Weβre a bunch of talented dudes that are about to show what we can do once we get there. Weβre going to go there and just keep winning football games, which is the most important thing.β
Who do you play Fortnite with?
A: β(Scottsdale native and wide receiver) Dylan Tapley.β
Whatβs the strategy for you in Fortnite?
A: βWith teamwork. We have good teamwork. Weβre always catching wins.β
How long have you been playing Fortnite? Is that your favorite video game?
A: βOne-hundred percent my favorite game. Iβve been playing Fortnite for years now. Thatβs the one game I play on my X-Box. ... They have new updates and everyone gets sad about it, but you just have to adapt to it. Just be better and donβt complain.β
What do you plan on studying at the UA?
A: βCriminal justice. I want to become a police officer if I donβt end up going to the (NFL).β
What made you choose that career path?
A: βIβm not even sure. Being a police officer would be super cool, serving others before yourself. Thatβs always been my mojo: serving others before yourself.β
How is it joining a program thatβs no longer in the infancy stage of rebuilding the program?
A: βItβs very exciting because theyβre already in a winning state of mind. Obviously that comes with good coaching, so I get to implement myself with great coaching, and thatβs all Iβve been excited about. Everyone talks about, βOh I want to play, I want to start and do all of this,β but Iβm going there to learn the game of football. I want to take my time, learn the game, and the rest will pile on itself.β