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Rodney Wells

Biography

Position: Linebackers

Rodney Wells is widely considered the best linebacker to come through the Dr. Phillips Football program. During his DP career, Wells set the school record for career sacks (25) and tackles (260) and led the Panthers to their first playoff appearance, first District Championship and first Metro Conference Championship in school history (1996). Wells anchored arguably one of the top defenses ever assembled in the Metro Conference, and certainly the best at Dr. Phillips, allowing just 85 points in 12 games.

Rodney Wells' senior season (1996) was punctuated with honors and accolades. He was named All-Metro Conference, All-Orange County, All-Central Florida, first team All-State and was tabbed Central Florida's Defensive Player of the Year. As ferocious as he was on the field, Wells was always, and continues to be, the epitome of class and sportsmanship off the field. 

Wells fielded numerous scholarship offers and signed with Syracuse University in 1997. He saw action quickly as a redshirt freshman in 1998 and through his senior season (2001) he totaled 40 tackles, an interception and a sack. He set a career-high with 9 tackles vs. Temple in 2001.

After graduating from Syracuse, Wells came home to Dr. Phillips High School where he became the Defensive Coordinator for the Panthers in 2005 as well as an Administrative Dean and, in 2011, he was promoted to Head Coach of Dr. Phillips Football. His team has set numerous defensive school records since his arrival and continues to be one of the best in the area. In 2016, Wells directed the Panthers to their ninth consecutive District Championship and their second appearance in the State Championship game where they faced Miami Southridge in a hard-fought 14-10 loss. Later in the year, Wells was voted Dr. Phillips High School's Coach of the Year. In 2017, Wells led Dr. Phillips to its first Football State Championship, capping a 13-2 season with a 17-7 victory over Delray Beach Atlantic at Camping World Stadium.

Rodney Wells is one of the top coaches in Florida and easily one of the most respected, not simply because of his reputation as a player and coach, but also as a person. Rodney Wells personifies the qualities of discipline, character and humility; the same qualities he instills in his players everyday. He was inducted into the DP Athletic Hall of Fame in May, 2019.

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