#31
Phillip Thaxton
Junior
Running Back
5-10 • 180
Yorktown, Va./Grafton HS

High School: Played running back and defensive back and returned punts and kicks at Grafton High School where he played for head coach David Walton...team went 9-1 and won Bay Rivers District title in 2005 and went 7-3 in 2006...four-year letterwinner in football who led team to four-year mark of 34-12...earned first team All-State honors as both a running back and kick returner as a senior...named region and district Offensive Player of the Year in 2006...two-time all-region and all-district selection as a running back, defensive back, and kick returner...first team Daily Press All-Star at both running back and defensive back...rushed for 2,058 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior to set school records...scored seven touchdowns in one game and had a school-record 41 total his senior year...also caught 13 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and intercepted two passes as a senior...rushed for 1,109 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior when he also intercepted four passes...four-year letterwinner in track and was a district and regional champion...state medalist in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4 x 100 meter relay as a senior...two-year letterwinner at point guard in basketball...led team to 18-2 record as a junior...second team all-district as a senior...named Grafton’s Male Athlete of the Year...earned U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished High School Athlete Award...served as team captain in all three sports...honor roll student...Latin Honor Society.

At Delaware: Junior and third-year member of Delaware backfield...team's most experienced runner with 20 games and 110 carries to his credit...with loss of top two rushers to graduation, will battle for starting spot in one-back offense with redshirt freshman David Hayes and senior Jerry Butler...all three could see ample action in rotation...enters season No. 2 behind Hayes..speedy and shifty runner who gives Delaware a strong breakaway threat at running back and pass-catching ability out of the backfield...team's active career leader with 110 carries for 571 yards (5.2 avg.) and three touchdowns...has also caught 11 passes for 106 yards in his career...has improved his blocking...ran for 32 yards on eight carries in 2009 spring game.

2008 Season: Earned second letter as team's No. 3 running back as a sophomore...split playing time with Junior Jabbie, Johnathon Smith, and Kervin Michaud throughout the season as the Hens looked for a steady threat in the backfield...team struggled in the run game, averaging just 130.9 yards per game...appeared in nine games and was the team's third leading rusher with 181 yards on 44 carries (4.1 avg.) with no touchdowns...also caught five passes for 54 yards (10.8 avg.) and returned two kickoffs for 36 yards...was limited with a leg injury for much of the season...saw the most action in early season win over West Chester when he ran 10 times for 47 yards...also ran for 35 yards on eight carries vs. William & Mary, 29 yards on three carries vs. Furman, 23 yards on seven carries vs. Maryland, and 22 yards on five attempts vs. No. 1 ranked James Madison...caught four passes for 50 yards against Maine and had a catch for four yards vs. Hofstra...returned kickoffs for 27 and 9 yards vs. West Chester...team went 4-8.

2007 Season: True freshman who was thrust into early action due to injuries in the UD backfield and made a strong contribution...one of seven true freshman to see action...played in 11 games in backup role and led team to 11-4 record and a berth in the FCS national title game...productive backup to All-American Cuff in the one-back offense and was team’s second leading rusher with 64 carries for 390 yards (6.1 avg.) and three touchdowns...also caught six passes for 52 yards (8.7 avg.)...did not see action vs. William & Mary, New Hampshire, Navy, and Southern Illinois...burst on to the Delaware scene in a record-setting way vs. West Chester...galloped 62 yards for a touchdown on his first career carry vs. the Rams - a school record - and later added a 63-yard jaunt before fumbling...ended game with 12 carries for a UD freshman record 177 yards and one touchdown and was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week for his performance...became first player in UD history to have two runs of 60 or more yards in the same game and his 177 total rushing yards was the most ever by a Delaware player in his first game and by a freshman in any game...14.8 yard per carry average was the seventh best single game effort in school history...also ran eight times for 41 yards vs. Villanova, carried 11 times for 35 yards and a touchdown in NCAA playoff win over Delaware State, carried nine times for 34 yards and a touchdown vs. Monmouth, and picked up 28 yards rushing vs. Northeastern and James Madison...had season-highs with three receptions for 27 yards vs. Rhode Island also caught two passes for 16 yards in debut vs. West Chester...lone running back in Delaware’s 2007 recruiting class.

Personal: Phillip Ellington Thaxton...born Dec. 18, 1988 in Bryan, Tex....son of Eric and Caroline Thaxton...sport management major at Delaware...would like to get into sports public relations field or become a sport agent...has an older brother...has worked as a waiter during the summers.

CAREER RUSHING STATISTICS

RECEIVING

Career-High Rushing Yardage: 177 yards vs. West Chester, 2007
Career-High Receiving: 4 receptions for 50 yards vs. Maine, 2008