Former NFL star found dead in prison cell

Phillips was found unresponsive at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday in his cell at the Kern Valley State Prison, authorities said.

Phillips – who was serving a term of more than 30 years – had been placed in a cell alone after he was accused of killing his former cellmate.

In 2009, he was sentenced to 31 years in prison for two separate incidents – driving his auto into three teenagers and assaulting an ex-girlfriend.

In the past few months, Tonissa says Phillips was determined to clear his name in the April death of his cellmate – telling her he only acted in self-defense.

Dana Simas, a spokeswoman for the prison, said it’s believed Phillips committed suicide, but would not release further details pending a coroner’s report.

A Los Angeles high school football star, Phillips arrived at Nebraska in 1993 and quickly became a key part of the Cornhuskers’ dominant offense.

The former University of Nebraska star was awaiting trial in that case and faced a possible life sentence if convicted.

He was drafted No. 6 overall by the St. Louis Rams in 1996, but he was released the next year for insubordination.

Phillips was being prosecuted in Kern County on a first-degree murder charge for allegedly strangling 37-year-old Damion Soward.

The former player had been incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California since his 2008 conviction on a list of charges including inflicting injuries, domestic violence, spousal abuse, false imprisonment and even vehicle theft.

Before the alledged murder, USA Today reported that Phillips wrote in a letter to his mother that said, “I feel myself very close to snapping”.

He played in just three National Football League seasons for three teams, the Rams, the Dolphins and the 49ers. Phillips got into trouble during his college days, then a lot more during and after his short National Football League career.

“Things weren’t going in a good direction for him”.