CFB Zeitgeist Score
35
Below cohort in the position cohort. Carried by yards / catch at the 86th percentile.
Sam Phillips
Below the discourse floor — the honest stats-only state.
261 REC YDS · 16 REC · 0 REC TD
2026 Outlook
Returning to Iowa for 2026
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Iowa
Returning around him
- 49% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 7 Iowa players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +7 net (15 in / 8 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Iowa · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #42 · 2026 recruiting class #38
WR · IOWA · BIG TEN
Sam Phillips
- 4
- #2
- 5-7 | 183 lb
- Cartersville, GA
Heisman Heat
Awaiting
Not on the live Heisman board this week.
Fan Belief
Awaiting
Player-specific FI not yet ingested. Falls back to team mood below.
Respect Gap
Awaiting
Coming online with player-level FI.
Reality Gap
Awaiting
Coming online with player-level FI.
ACCOLADE PROBABILITY
Heisman
—
TOP WR AWARD
Biletnikoff
—
CONSENSUS
All-American
—
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR07 · Impact starter
Impact starter. Producing measurable value above replacement.
Not on team2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career Arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Iowa
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Identity & Role
The durable bio layer: position, size, hometown, and roster role.
Recruiting Pedigree
How big the prospect was before college, and whether the later career arc beat that expectation.
| Class | Profile | Context |
|---|---|---|
| No recruiting profile is on file for this player. | ||
Transfer Arc
Portal movement changes role, context, and perception. This keeps that path in one place.
| Season | Move | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Chattanooga -> Iowa | 3-star | 0.8500 | Immediate |
Heisman Lens
Where the model places this player relative to the rest of the Heisman field.
Heisman Futures
Not yet listed on major futures markets.
No achievements unlocked yet this season.
Selector Grid · 2025
AP—
FWAA—
AFCA—
WCFF—
SN—
SI—
Selector recognition fills in once the major honors lists (AP, FWAA, AFCA, Walter Camp, Sporting News, SI) are scraped and ingested.
Today’s Hot-Take
The Hot-Take engine fires when this player’s percentile profile crosses a defensible threshold (top 10% in a cohort, 100+ snap sample). When it’s quiet, the model is honoring its “must be defensible” rule.
Anti-Take
PENDINGThe contrarian read fires when the rules-engine detects a stat that complicates the Hot-Take. Quiet here means the model hasn’t found a defensible counter yet — not that one doesn’t exist.
The Room on Sam Phillips
Fan sentiment ·
Belief Meter
50
Mixed Sentiment
Top Take
“”
Trajectory
Per-cohort trajectory lands when historical bucket data is aggregated.
Cohort divergence map
- Own fans · n=1
Rival Radar
How rival fanbases talk about Sam Phillips
No rival-bucket mentions in the current season.
Signature Story
Awaiting candidate metric
He hasn't written his page yet — we'll start filling it in when there are enough snaps to rank against his peers.
Signature Moment
No signature moment on the ledger yet.
Returns once this player puts together a multi-game body of work — single-game flashes alone don't clear the bar.
Season Pace · Projection
Where the receiving totals stand
Through 10g
261Rec yards
16Receptions
0Rec TDs
Per game
26.1Rec yards
2Receptions
0Rec TDs
Projected (13g)
339.3Rec yards
21Receptions
0Rec TDs
To hit 700-yard receiver (currently 261): needs 146.3/game over remaining 3.
To hit 1,000-yard receiver (currently 261): needs 246.3/game over remaining 3.
To hit 60-catch season (currently 16): needs 14.7/game over remaining 3.
To hit 80-catch season (currently 16): needs 21.3/game over remaining 3.
To hit 8 receiving TDs (currently 0): needs 2.7/game over remaining 3.
To hit 10 receiving TDs (currently 0): needs 3.3/game over remaining 3.
What made this player interesting
The fast read on the thing that makes this player more than a generic stat line.
Sam Phillips's story is about how role and output meet each other. For Iowa, the card already shows enough current-season production to explain why he is on the serious-player board, and the next layer is determining whether the profile is just very good or actually distinctive.
2025 Season · Final
Traditional stats first. Advanced context underneath.
Last season
WR season snapshot
2025 season snapshot | final
2025 season snapshot | finalData: CFBD player stats + local Heisman modelPeer context: same position + same level
Player identity What kind of player is this?
30-second read
What kind of player is this?
Big-play receiver against FBS receiving peers.
2025 Season · Final
2025 season snapshot | final
Receiving
REC
16 58th
YDS
261 64th
YPR
16.3 83rd
TD
0 45th
Returns
PR YDS
46 51st
PR AVG
46.0 100th
Game Log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 10 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 34-7vs UAlbany | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 2 | L 13-16@ Iowa State | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | |
| Wk 3 | W 47-7vs Massachusetts | 3 | 75 | 25.0 | 0 | 45 | Season-high 75 yds |
| Wk 4 | W 38-28@ Rutgers | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 0 | 25 | |
| Wk 5 | L 15-20vs Indiana | 5 | 64 | 12.8 | 0 | 21 | |
| Wk 7 | W 37-0@ Wisconsin | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Wk 9 | W 41-3vs Minnesota | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 | |
| Wk 11 | L 16-18vs Oregon | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 0 | 12 | |
| Wk 13 | W 20-17vs Michigan State | 1 | 33 | 33.0 | 0 | 33 | |
| Wk 14 | W 40-16@ Nebraska | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 | 11 | |
| Total | 16 | 261 | 17.1 | 0 | 45 |
Season-by-season tables Career rows + per-season box score
Traditional history
Traditional Stats
Season rows up top, career context at the bottom.
Season context · Team result + system
2025Iowa9-4HC: Kirk Ferentz · Run-heavy, slow tempo
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Iowa | 16 | 261 | 16.3 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 1 loaded season | 16 | 261 | 16.3 | 0 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Iowa | -- | -- | -- | 46 | -- |
| Career | 1 loaded season | -- | -- | -- | 46 | -- |
Advanced layer Usage, value, and context
Advanced metrics second
Advanced Metrics
Usage, value, and opponent-adjusted context.
The player's share of a team's passing-game involvement. It is the fastest way to see whether the receiver is a true focal point or more of a complementary piece.
A blended workload view that accounts for catches, designed touches, and any return-game involvement that shapes the overall profile.
Every percentile is compared against players at the same position and level, so an FBS quarterback is judged against FBS quarterbacks, not the whole sport.
The top tables stick to the stats fans already know from broadcasts and box scores. Advanced context is pushed underneath instead of replacing the basics.
Open full stat explorer
| Group | Metric | Value | Rank | Pct | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving | Receptions | 16 | #465/1110 | 58th pct | Volumevs FBS WR |
| Receiving | Receiving yards | 261 | #397/1107 | 64th pct | Volumevs FBS WR |
| Receiving | Receiving TD | 0 | #615/1111 | 45th pct | Scoringvs FBS WR |
| Receiving | Yards / catch | 16.3 | #186/1106 | 83rd pct | Efficiencyvs FBS WR |
| Returns | Punt return yards | 46 | #111/224 | 51st pct | Volumevs FBS WR |
| Usage | Pass share | 9.5% | #510/1137 | 55th pct | Air-game usagevs FBS WR |
| Receiving | Receiving LONG | 45 | #344/1105 | 69th pct | Metricvs FBS WR |
| Returns | Punt return avg | 46.0 | #1/222 | 100th pct | Efficiencyvs FBS WR |
| Returns | Punt returns | 1 | #182/237 | 24th pct | Volumevs FBS WR |
| Usage | Passing-down usage | 5.2% | #692/1137 | 39th pct | Known-passing sharevs FBS WR |
| Usage | 3rd-down usage | 4.3% | #703/1137 | 38th pct | Money-down loadvs FBS WR |
| Usage | 2nd-down usage | 4.0% | #651/1137 | 43rd pct | Middle-down loadvs FBS WR |
| Usage | Role share | 3.6% | #673/1137 | 41st pct | Share of team offensevs FBS WR |
| Usage | 1st-down usage | 3.2% | #667/1137 | 41st pct | Early-down loadvs FBS WR |
| Usage | Standard-down usage | 3.1% | #669/1137 | 41st pct | Base-situation sharevs FBS WR |
| Usage | Rush share | 0.0% | #391/1137 | 66th pct | Ground-game usagevs FBS WR |
Player Standing
Universal 17-step ladder. Tier pills below; accolade streams nested.
AWAITING CLASSIFICATION
On-team2-deepStartingRecognizedEliteApex
AWAITING CLASSIFICATION · Rung None of 16
Why he’s here
Standing classification populates when honors, Heisman, and roster signals all align.
What moves him up
What moves him down
Accolade streams
Status—Awaiting tracker
Heisman model tracks the top FBS contenders weekly; this player hasn't entered the watch list yet.
Splits · Per-game
2025 season · 10 games
Home vs Road
| REC/g | YDS/g | YPR | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home6g | 1.8 | 32.5 | 18.8 | 0.0 |
| Road4g | 1.2 | 16.5 | 15.0 | 0.0 |
Win vs Loss
| REC/g | YDS/g | YPR | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins7g | 1.3 | 24.3 | 19.0 | 0.0 |
| Losses3g | 2.3 | 30.3 | 13.3 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| REC/g | YDS/g | YPR | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 1.8 | 32.2 | 18.4 | 0.0 |
| Weeks 8+4g | 1.2 | 17.0 | 15.5 | 0.0 |
Pocket and defense-quality (clean vs. pressure) splits are coming soon.
Savant · Box-rate percentiles
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
35Below cohort
Elite: yards / catch (86th). Concern: rec tds (6th).
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Advanced Savant · WR · 2025
Percentile Card
Advanced opponent-adjusted percentile bars are coming soon for this player.
P4G5All FBS
Advanced Savant
Opponent-adjusted advanced metrics with a cohort filter.
Advanced opponent-adjusted metrics are coming soon for this player. Selected cohort: P4.
Peer Comparator · Fingerprint match
Three closest profiles by box-rate percentile
Sam PhillipsIowaNik McMillanBuffalo· 49% simKevin Coleman Jr.Missouri· 49% simJacquon GibsonMassachusetts· 49% sim
Yards / catch
Long catch
Rec yards
Receptions
Rec TDs
Closest peers by overall box-score percentile profile at the same position.
Player DNA
The Deep Threat
Stretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jahcour Pearson’s 2021 season.
Jahcour Pearson
63%match
#2
Ja'Khi Douglas
61%
#3
Tyrin Smith
57%
#4
Anthony Gould
NFL Rd 5
57%
#5
Jaylon Robinson
56%
Matches Jahcour on
Weight
Yards / reception
Differs from Jahcour on
EPA / play (adj) (higher)
Height (lower)
Reception volume (lower)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Cornell Powell’s path through Clemson.
Cornell Powell
92%match
NFL Rd 5
#2
T.J. Simmons
86%
#3
Isaiah McKoy
All-MAC
86%
#4
Dez Fitzpatrick
NFL Rd 4
84%
#5
Bailey Gaither
All-Mountain West
81%
Matches Cornell on
Yards per reception
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jamari Hawkins's junior season at Memphis (2025).
Jamari Hawkins
60%match
#2
Kacper Rutkiewicz
59%
#3
Mason Pierce
54%
#4
Aaron Anderson
All-SEC
52%
#5
Giles Jackson
51%
Differs from Jamari on
Class year (higher)
Reception volume (lower)
EPA / play (adj) (higher)
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kirk Ferentz
Pass share
36.6%
286 pass / 495 run
Plays / game
60.1
13 games
OL sack rate (allowed)
7.9%
228 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy, slow tempo.
Coaching Lineage · 2025
1 coach2025
Kirk Ferentz
Iowa
Played his entire career under Kirk Ferentz.
Bio · Recruiting · Transfer · Roster
Off-field context — switch tabs to drill into recruit profile, transfer arc, or roster timeline.
HometownCartersville, GA
Height5'7"
Weight183 lb
Class4
PositionWR
Jersey2
No fields populated yet.
No fields populated yet.
Current teamIowa
ConferenceBig Ten
Joined2025
Career arc1 season(s)
Trophy Case · Detail
Every honor on the ledger, broken out by stream and selector.
No formal honors on the ledger yet
All-America, all-conference, player-of-the-week, watch-list, and postseason awards land here when they're earned. The absence is the signal: most players never collect formal honors, and that's its own kind of context.
Honors Timeline
Season-end distinction and week-by-week recognition on one timeline.
| Season | Honor | Scope | Team / Selector | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No formal honors on the ledger yet. All-America, all-conference, weekly awards, watch lists, and postseason trophies land here when they’re earned. | ||||
Heisman By Year
Modeled rank and official finish by season.
| Season | Team | Role | Latest Model | Forecast | Win | Finalist | Official Finish | Points | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This player hasn’t appeared on a Heisman ballot tracked by the model. | |||||||||
Roster Timeline
Team, conference, and class by season.
| Season | Team | Conference | Pos | Class | Bio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Iowa | Big Ten | WR | 4 | No. 2 | 5-7 | 183 lb | Cartersville, GA |