KNOXVILLE - Mom always knows best.
In the case of Tennessee defensive end Kyle Phillips, there really is no doubt of that.
Kyle's mother, Teresa Phillips, is in her 16th season as athletic director at Tennessee State University, after spending 15 years as a collegiate women's basketball head coach.
So when the Chattanooga native and 1976 Girls Preparatory School graduate is on the phone with her son talking about the rigors of being a Division I student-athlete, Kyle is certain his mom understands the grind.
"We have a really good relationship," Kyle said at the Volunteers' preseason media day Sunday. "She obviously knows the background of sports with being an athletic director and being a former head coach. We kind of feed off each other with ideas and things like that. She gives me advice on what to do and what not to do."
Lately, conversations between the two have touched on leadership styles.
Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop praised Kyle's leadership after one of the first preseason practices, noting his effort to sprint down the field from his defensive end position to tackle ball carriers.
"That's something you try and show to all the young guys so they create that habit also," Shoop said.
Mom sees even more ways for her son to expand his leadership skills. Kyle is usually pretty quiet, Teresa Phillips said. But the former four-star high school prospect is projected to play a major role on Tennessee's defensive line this year, and the junior is no longer considered a young player.
"He is really, I think, going to blossom this year as far as understanding that in leadership you sometimes have to be vocal," Teresa said. "He's going to do what he needs to do and be where he needs to be, but sometimes you've got to step outside of that. I can see some of that coming on with him."
Kyle spent the past year participating in the VOLeaders Academy class that was capped with a summer service trip to Vietnam. All of the focus on leadership could come in handy this football season as the Vols are likely to have at least one true freshman in the playing rotation on the defensive line when the season begins against Georgia Tech on Sept. 4.
Along with returning defensive ends Jonathan Kongbo and Darrell Taylor, Kyle will be relied upon to help replace the production of the departed Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis.
Returning to defensive end is exciting for Kyle, who was moved to defensive tackle when injuries decimated Tennessee's depth at the interior position in 2016.
"During my time here when I was young, I was just go with the flow, if they need me anywhere, I'll go," he said. "You just want to get on the field at that point. But now that I have an opportunity to play my natural position, it's really just relieving, and I'm happy for the chance for this year."
Three shoulder surgeries have provided challenges for him since he graduated from Nashville's Hillsboro High School a semester early to enroll at Tennessee in January 2015 and go through spring practice. He's missed the last two years of spring practice because of the nagging issues.
Mom has been there for him through the struggles with words of encouragement, though she noted, "It's one thing to say it when you're the mom or the coach or the friend. It's another when you're personally going through it."
Still, regardless of what happens in football, Teresa is proud of the maturation she has seen from Kyle in college, noting that he is a committed student.
Kyle is majoring in communication studies and made the SEC academic honor roll in 2015 and 2016. He has not ruled out pursuing a career in athletic administration after he is done playing football.
"Since she is an athletic director, I know all the negatives about it and the pressure that comes with it," Kyle said. "But I've been around sports my whole life, so I really don't know anything else."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.