NLR's Phillips gets invite to The Opening

North Little Rock safety Tyler Phillips shows off the nation's leading SPARQ rating.

The nation’s leading SPARQ leader North Little Rock safety Tyler Phillips has been invited to The Opening, the prestigious July event for the top 160 football prospects in the nation at Nike Headquarters.

Phillips, 6-2, 206 pounds, ran an electronically time of 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 4.00 in the pro shuttle, recorded a 40.7-inch vertical leap and tossed the power ball 42 feet for a score of 141.36 at the Dallas Nike Combine.

This year's previous best was 138.84 recorded by receiver Kirk Merritt of Destrehan, La. SPARQ ratings are used as a standardized measure of athletic ability and take into account an athlete’s speed, power, agility, reaction and quickness.

He and receiver K.J. Hill will represent the Charging Wildcats at The Opening and will be the only teammates to ever attend the event in the same year.

Phillips attended Arkansas' Elite Camp last Thursday.