Utah Blaze Players
Utah Blaze Coaches & Operations

31 - Justin Phinisee

HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 200
POSITION: DB
BORN: 4/10/83
HOMETOWN: Long Beach, CA
COLLEGE: Oregon
AFL SEASON: Rookie

PROFESSIONAL: 2008: Phinisee spent time as a member of the practice squad for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. He also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys. 2007: He spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams of the NFL. 2006: Phinisee was originally selected 235th overall in the NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.

COLLEGE: Phinisee spent five years at the University of Oregon. In 2005 Phinisee was a First Team Pac-10 selection as a cornerback. He returned 25 punts for 289 yards and a touchdown. He also had four interceptions for 206 yards, and recorded 66.0 total tackles. In 2004 was eighth on the team in total tackles and paced the team in passes broken up. Phinisee earned honorable mention all-Pac-10 as a punt returner and was ranked 11th in the country in punt return average at 15.4 yards. In 2003, Phinisee became key player in the Ducks secondary, finishing fourth among the entire team in tackles. He started nine games at cornerback and recorded 50 solo tackles. He also served as as a kick-returner for the team. In 2002 he led the Ducks in special teams tackles with 23 in addition to returning seven kicks for an average of 29.3 yards per return.

PERSONAL: Phinisee graduated from Downey High School (Calif.). While in high school he earned second-team all-state accolades and was twice named an all-CIF Division II selection. He was the San Gabriel Valley League offensive MVP after rushing for 866 yards and 18 touchdowns in addition to throwing for 738 yards and six touchdowns as the quarterback. At Oregon, he majored in Ethnic Studies.