Phoenix Rising: From Savannah To The Wolfpack

The pocket collapsed in an instant. Defenders surged, and the play that had started with clean timing suddenly turned into chaos inside Angel of the Winds Arena. Eric Phoenix, the left-handed quarterback, in just his first start for the Washington Wolfpack, felt the rush closing from both sides. He stepped up into the narrowing lane, kept his eyes forward, and let the ball go with the kind of calm that separates good quarterbacks from the ones who make you believe.

The throw found its target. Six points. The kind of improvisational magic that had announcers reaching for Patrick Mahomes comparisons before the ball even hit the receiver’s hands. Afterwards, Phoenix simply nodded and gave credit where it was due to his receiver for making a great catch. But in that moment, under the arena lights with the crowd making plenty of noise for their home team, it became clear the Wolfpack had found someone special.

Savannah Roots

Long before the professional stage, before the HBCU awards and the cross-country moves, there was a kid in Savannah, Georgia, who wanted nothing more than to play receiver like his favorite football player, DeSean Jackson. His father, who coached him on the Southside Jaguars little league team, saw something else entirely.

“You’re the only person who can throw it,” his dad told him, per Phoenix. That conversation changed everything. The boy who dreamed of catching passes became the quarterback who delivered them. Once the ball was in his hands, the natural arm talent and leadership started to bloom. Phoenix still credits his father for recognizing the gift and steering him toward the position that would define his future.

He spent two years at Calvary Day School before finishing at Windsor Forest High School. The foundation of toughness and work ethic was already being built on those Georgia fields.

The Road Through College

Phoenix’s path through college was marked by resilience. He started at Benedict College, where he helped the Tigers capture their first SIAC championship in school history and earned All-SIAC conference honors twice in his time there. He finished with 4400 passing yards in his time there and threw 32 touchdowns.

Continuing on in his collegiate career, Phoenix transferred to Murray State and redshirted there. After his time there, he landed at South Carolina State for his final year and reunited with his former coach from Benedict, Chennis Berry.

The reunion paid off immediately. Phoenix led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record, the MEAC title, and a Celebration Bowl berth. He threw for 2,460 yards and 20 touchdowns and also added significant production on the ground. He was named the inaugural HBCU+ National Player of the Year. He also earned first-team All-MEAC and All-American recognition. The Bulldogs had started 1-2, but his perseverance helped them go on an eight-game winning streak.

“Take every game day by day,” Phoenix said when I asked him what he carries forward from his time at South Carolina State into the professional leagues now. “We had a lot of success, but like any given Saturday, anything can happen. Just train like a champion, and you’ll be successful. You never wanna get too high, get too low.”

Finding His Home With The Wolfpack

After a year away from the game, Phoenix returned to football, first with the Albany Firebirds before joining the Washington Wolfpack in the spring of 2026. The transition to the faster, more confined style of arena play has come naturally.

One thing that has really stood out to Eric is the Wolfpack fans in Everett from the moment he arrived.

“It’s amazing,” Phoenix said of the Wolfpack atmosphere. “We got nice fans, very energetic. They love to support the Wolfpack. Last Saturday was my first home game here. It was a nice crowd. I wish we could’ve gotten a win for them, but they showed great hospitality and great excitement. I can’t wait to come back and play for them next home game.”

Head coach JR Wells has played a major role in helping him feel at home. Phoenix describes Wells as a players’ coach who listens, seeks input, and puts the team first.

“He’s super energetic,” Phoenix said. “He likes to listen to his players, likes to get ideas from his players, and he always wants what’s best for the team. Team before self. And standard is the standard, that’s his motto. He lives by that.”

A Statement In His First Start

Phoenix got the call for his first start against the Beaumont Renegades this past weekend. He responded with 288 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Wolfpack ultimately fell 42-35 in the closing seconds, but the performance carried real substance.

He started fast and settled into rhythm quickly despite the new surroundings and the pressure of a first start. More telling was how fast he began connecting with his receivers on the field. I asked him how he was able to build such fast chemistry. Phoenix had received limited playing time in the Wolfpack’s 79-19 victory over Oregon the previous week. However, he is still very new to the team, and the way he had everybody on the same page so quickly was very impressive.

“I just like to talk to them before the play, after the play, when we’re in meetings or just driving in the car,” Phoenix explained. “Just let them know what I’m thinking. At the end of the day, we gotta be on the same page. It’s bigger than just running routes and throwing the ball.” His ability to connect with the guys really stood out on Saturday.

The Plays That Stole The Show

Two sequences stood out on a night filled with big plays. The first came when the pocket collapsed around him. Phoenix stepped up, avoided the rush, and delivered a touchdown strike that had fans and broadcasters alike buzzing.

The second arrived in the most critical moment. It was fourth down, the game hanging in the balance with the Wolfpack needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie. Phoenix took the snap from his own one-yard line, stepped up, and found his receiver, Deshon, on a crossing route. Deshon caught it, hurdled a defender in traffic, and raced untouched into the end zone.

“I just heard the crowd get loud, and I just saw him in the air,” Phoenix recalled. “He cleared them, and he kept running, and the crowd got louder and louder. I’m like, oh, he’s about to score.”

Faith, Family, And Life Lessons

Phoenix is quick to point to the foundation that has carried him through every chapter of football and life.

“First, God,” he said. “God’s the biggest person in my life. Without Him, none of this would be possible.”

His family has been just as central. His parents have supported him through every transfer, every setback, and every new city.

“From the very beginning, I had their support. Coming from Georgia to the top of the mountain here in Washington,” he said of his parents, “They made sure I’m straight and got here comfortably and safely.”

The game itself has taught him lessons that extend far beyond football. When I asked him what one lesson football has taught him that he can carry into life, Phoenix pointed to the adversity you can face on and off the field.

“Adversity will happen,” Phoenix said. “Things will not always go how you want them to. One minute you could be up, next thing you know, you're down. And you gotta adapt and overcome, find a way to fight through it and finish the drill. And that’s just life. You just can’t quit or give up.”

His mother’s words remain a guiding principle: “It’s okay to feel some way, just don’t stay there.” Truer words have never been spoken, and it’s a powerful message we can all learn from.

More Than Just A Quarterback

Away from the field, Phoenix shows a grounded, multifaceted personality. He has a genuine love for fishing and told me a story about the baby shark he caught when he was younger. He also has a surprising talent for singing. On a cruise, he stepped up for karaoke, performing Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One” and Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” The performance earned a standing ovation and requests for an encore.

Those interests show a player who stays connected to simple joys even as his football life continues to grow.

Looking Ahead

Phoenix sees real potential in the current Wolfpack roster. The defense creates turnovers, the offensive line protects, and the skill players can make explosive plays. He is focused on raising his own consistency after leaving some opportunities on the field in his debut.

“I think we got a well-rounded team,” he said. “Me personally, just gotta get better, be consistent. I left some money on the field, and that’s something I always wish I could have back. Just gotta train and just be more consistent.”

He remains grateful for the opportunity to keep playing the game he loves at a high level.

The journey from Savannah Little League fields to HBCU stardom and now to the Washington Wolfpack has never followed a straight line. But Eric Phoenix has shown time and again that he does not need perfect circumstances. He simply needs a chance to step up when everything around him is breaking down.

The Wolfpack have their left-handed gunslinger. And the early returns suggest the best throws, the loudest moments, and the biggest wins are still ahead.