(Photo via buffalonews.com)

Even if he never plays a down in the NFL, which is highly unlikely at this point, Harrison Phillips shouldn’t have too many problems securing a fruitful life.

The 2014 U.S. National Team alum graduated from Stanford University in December, with a double major in the science of technology and sociology.

He topped all NFL Scouting Combine participants with his 42 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press. Combined with a stellar career as a defensive tackle at Stanford, he’s projected to be a first- or second-round pick at the NFL Draft.

.@horribleharry66 just blew up the bench press at the #NFLCombine. Harrison's 42 reps is the most by any player since 2012.

🌲💪 #StanfordNFL pic.twitter.com/lUNZDAv2Eb

— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) March 3, 2018

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Despite all of those achievements, he still recalled fondly his National Team experience.

“It was definitely one of the most fun experiences I had,” Phillips said. “It was amazing to be in signing day, doing something big, to where I ran out of the field carrying the (American) flag (at the International Bowl). That was a really surreal moment … very cool.”

While at Stanford, Phillips was team captain, named first-team All-Pac 12 and third-team All-American, and led the Cardinal with 103 tackles, an unusually high total for an interior lineman. He also registered 7.5 sacks.

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Phillips admitted the Cardinal had to rely on him more than other defenses might on a defensive tackle, because they needed run-stopping help, but also credited his work ethic for his eye-popping stats and other accolades.

“It goes into how much I love the game and what I’m willing to do for it,” Phillips said. “I can pick up on the calls. I’m a better player as the game goes on, and I think everyone should be. We’ve coined the term ‘intellectual brutality’ at Stanford, and that’s actually how I played. Very intellectual, can anticipate plays, and when it comes down to it, I can be violent and brutal.”

Phillips’ athletic accomplishments don’t end at football. While at Millard West High School in Nebraska, he was also a three-time state wrestling champion, and was the Brute-Adidas national champ in the 218-pound weight class as a sophomore.

Harrison Phillips on National Signing Day in 2014, when he signed with Stanford.

He said the skills he developed as a wrestler translated well to the gridiron.

“The physical parallels of hips, hands, fluidity, balance, things like that that help, but there’s also the mentality part,” Phillips said. “In wrestling, it’s you and another person. You can’t blame your shoes for slipping, you can’t blame your coaches for the play call. You can’t have any excuses. You let another man beat you. That kind of is (like) the trenches. It prepared me in a mindset and physically.”

Phillips’ attributes don’t stop there. He was one of 22 college football players who was named to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team because of his volunteer work. Over the past few years, he mentored at Sacramento, California-based Playmakers Mentoring Foundation, which provides afterschool and summer reading programs for at-risk youth. He also feeds the homeless Friday mornings at a San Francisco Bay area shelter and visits kids in the oncology ward at a local children’s hospital.

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“I work a couple of nonprofits very closely,” Phillips said. “I’m on the board of one of them (Playmakers). I’m faith-based, and so character means a lot to me. I think it’s important to get into these inner cities where kids are less fortunate and don’t have the privilege that I had. So many mentors were there for me to get me to where I am right now. It’s unfortunate that there aren’t those in some other communities, so using my platform to give back as much as I can, because that’s what got me here. That’s something I’ve always cared about.”