NASHVILLE – The Titans selected former UCLA receiver Kyle Philips in the fifth round of Saturday's NFL Draft.
Immediately, Philips got emotional.
"Once I got that call, I started crying right away," Philips said on a conference call after being picked. "I thought I was going to be able to hold (the tears) back, but I couldn't do it. I am just extremely thankful.
"It's from all the hard work, and the Titans just believing in me, giving the opportunity to live out my dreams and play in the NFL. I couldn't be more excited to be a Titan."
Philips, taken with the 163rd overall pick, caught 59 passes for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021. He led all Pac-12 receivers with the 10 touchdown catches and he rated No. 2 in the Pac-12 in receiving yards per game (67.18) and No. 3 in the league in receptions per game average (5.36).
Phillips (5-11, 191) also averaged 22.6 yards per punt return this season, including an 82-yard touchdown scamper against Colorado. He posted 100-yard games against Fresno State (113) and Stanford (120) last year. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 as a receiver and was a second-team selection as a kick returner by the league's coaches.
In four seasons with the Bruins, Philips caught 163 passes for 1,821 yards and 17 touchdowns. Philips had a reception in each of the last 29 games he played in and 35 catches in the last five games of the season.
"My work ethic, how I work, I am just excited to go in there and do everything I can and earn a spot anywhere on the field, whether that is special teams, on the cover teams, or on offense in the slot," Philips said. "Whatever that is, I just want to help the team win some games. … I am willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win."
The Titans selected UCLA WR Kyle Philips in the fifth round of Saturday's NFL Draft.
![gallery-kyle-philips](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/jnsw8kubgcuxxvvopdte.jpg)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) against Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. UCLA won 25-18. (AP Photo/Matt York)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/odsztiv9jhn4jbr5irq3.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) against Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. UCLA won 25-18. (AP Photo/Matt York)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) runs on a punt return during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/udltmw3eabkidxyv0qke.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) runs on a punt return during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips gestures during the second half of an NCAA college football game against California Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/na3ro5w01w9xp4h6c1aj.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips gestures during the second half of an NCAA college football game against California Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips scores a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against California Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 42-14. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/x9ykepiggcqafmocjv8s.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips scores a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against California Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 42-14. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) makes a touchdown catch over Fresno State defensive back Bralyn Lux (38) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/a9crc9mla1gmr3a6ifrs.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) makes a touchdown catch over Fresno State defensive back Bralyn Lux (38) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips, left, falls just short of the goal line after completing a pass as Arizona State defensive back Timarcus Davis tackles him while quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/ihxb8x3caoolcnigoebh.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips, left, falls just short of the goal line after completing a pass as Arizona State defensive back Timarcus Davis tackles him while quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips scores against LSU during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/hnwxm9pbcij9vvbr2veq.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips scores against LSU during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips, left, makes a catch for a touchdown as Arizona State defensive back DeAndre Pierce defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/wolfklac6rutr3l3jbax.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips, left, makes a catch for a touchdown as Arizona State defensive back DeAndre Pierce defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against LSU Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/kk4qusdgxzk5uzcptzpp.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against LSU Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
![UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) reacts after scoring a touchdown against Stanford safety Kendall Williamson (21) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/titans/yfhr2sir53kp7fveish1.jpg)
UCLA wide receiver Kyle Philips (2) reacts after scoring a touchdown against Stanford safety Kendall Williamson (21) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)