Norwalk's Phillips signs with Ashland University

NORWALK — In the mind of Ethan Phillips, it only seemed right. As a standout wide receiver at Norwalk High School, his position coach was Chris Harkness. Not only did Harkness have an impressive career at NHS, graduating in 1985, but he also went on to become one of the greatest receivers at NCAA Division II Ashland University. More than three decades later, Harkness still holds the AU single-season yardage (1,131) record, single-season yards per catch (27.6) and is second in career yardage (2,317). Now, Phillips wants to follow in his footsteps. He signed with the Eagles in front of family and friends on Thursday at the Reagan All-Sports Complex at Norwalk High School. "I've always liked Ashland," Phillips said. "Coach Harkness has been my role model coach and he obviously did some great things there. But really, I've always wanted to go there, and I got a good financial opportunity to go there, so I jumped on it. "Coach Harkness was proud and excited for me," he added. "He didn't care where I went necessarily, but he was definitely excited." The Eagles have become a steady Div. II program over the past decade-plus under Lee Owens. From 2007-19, AU has made the NCAA playoffs five times with a record of 104-40 (.722), good for an average record of 8-3. With the 2020 season canceled because of the COVID pandemic, the Eagles are doing a three-game spring season that won't count in the record books. AU also plays at Jack Miller Stadium, build in 2009, which is widely regarded as one of the top facilities in the country in Div. II. On top of that, the school is going to have a new indoor training facility slated to open this coming fall. "Just a really nice place, I really like their stadium," Phillips said. "Just a great place and a good all-around program that I'me excited to play for. They have a good system in place, so hopefully I can get in there and get to work and eventually see some playing time." At Norwalk, Phillips burst onto the scene as a sophomore in 2018, notably as a kick returner for a Div. III state semifinal team. As a junior in 2019, he was limited by injuries and caught just 26 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown. But in 2020, Phillips cast aside the frustrations and disappointments of the season before. In just nine games, he caught 62 catches for 834 yards and 4 TDs. Needing nine catches and 123 yards for two program records entering the season finale vs. Elyria Catholic, Phillips caught 10 passes for 201 yards and a pair of scores. He broke the catches in a season program mark held by Corey Olaniyan (60, 2003), and the yardage topped the old record held by Joseph Hinckley (791, 2013). Philips also totaled big yardage again as a kick and punt returner, while also running the ball for a TD. All told, he touched the ball 85 times for 1,504 yards from scrimmage (17.7 average) with six TDs for the Truckers (5-4). In a league that also included Tiffin Columbian (9-2), Bellevue (8-1) and Clyde (6-4), Phillips was the only unanimous SBC Lake Division selection on both sides of the football. "Junior year was a letdown because of injuries and I didn't perform as well," Phillips said. "This last year was a relief to even have a season, but then to break some records and do some things and earn some recognition was exciting. I was very surprised about that part." On top of the all-league honors, Phillips was the OPSWA Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year, which also landed him a spot on the All-Ohio first team. "Ethan in 2020 was an example of what he's capable of," Norwalk coach Todd Fox said. "We've known that for a long time. Because of his injuries as a junior, he was also under the radar to schools on the recruiting trail. His talent level is never in question, and his body finally developed to catch up to that. "It could be a great four or five years at Ashland for him and them," he added. "We're hoping it pays big dividends as a student-athlete in the classroom and on the field." Though the Truckers got in nine games in 2020 — one game was canceled the day of, and two more fell through — Phillips said he was proud he broke the two single-season records with one less game. "It's pretty cool to think of it that way, though I would have loved to get that 10th game that we lost like three times," he said. "But cool to do it in nine games." Fox added the numbers in a shortened season also carry more weight because there were no scrimmages last season, and limited contact with players during the offseason. "It just speaks to his abilities, because imagine in a non-COVID year what could have been with the ability to do everything like in the past," Fox said. "You look at his statistics, and it really was impressive. "I think he was playing his best football by the end of the season," he added. "Ethan is a special talent with special abilities, and we believe great things are in front of him still." For his NHS career, Phillips finished with 104 catches for 1,303 yards and 6 TDs. He returned 29 kickoffs for 1,028 yards (35.4 average) and 2 TDs, and returned 19 punts for 581 yards (30.6 average). Phillips also credited his older brother, Gabe, a 2020 NHS graduate, for his success. Gabe was one of the top wrestlers in school history and is at Div. I Cleveland State University, and was also an all-league lineman for the Truckers. "He was always pushing me to be better than I thought I could be," Ethan said. "He was your typical big brother, always beating me up on the football field and in the wrestling room when he could. "But he helped me a lot, and without him I probably wouldn't be standing here today in this position."