Clark Phillips III Remembers Best Friend, Teammate Aaron Lowe

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The tragic passing of Utah defensive back Aaron Lowe really hit hard with the Utes football team, particularly with Clark Phillips III.

Phillips considered Aaron Lowe to be his best friend and was devastated when he found out that Lowe was shot and killed at a house party in Sugarhouse early Sunday morning on September 26.

The standout Utah cornerback honored his best friend and teammate on the latest episode of Faith, Family and Football. You can listen to the full episode, below.

“First thing was just shock,” said Phillips about his reaction when he heard the news. “It was just like, ‘this can’t be true. This can’t be real.’ I didn’t know what to do. I’m thinking, ‘this is my best friend, I can’t do it.’ I’m asking God why would he take him too? I just couldn’t understand, I couldn’t wrap my head around it man. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been trying to find purpose and not just in that situation, but trying to understand it, understand God’s plan, but just go with God’s plan and trust him. It’s really been allowing me to just lean on my faith and just trust him no matter what.”

Earlier this week, Utah's Aaron Lowe was fatally shot, less than a year after teammate and friend Ty Jordan was killed in an accidental shooting. @sportsiren shared how the team is coping after this unimaginable tragedy. pic.twitter.com/ciH2Q12eZ0

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 2, 2021

Last Encounter With Aaron Lowe

When Ty Jordan passed away on Christmas night in 2020, Phillips recalled his last encounter with the star running back, which was cheering Phillips on after getting a pick-six in the regular season finale against Washington State.

Phillips talked about his last encounter with Lowe.

“It was in locker room right before the game,” said Phillips. So before the game, we’re getting dressed and stuff and the DB’s, most of us will hang back, we’ll go into the second group for warm ups and stuff. Prior to the game, we always did that. So for this game in particular, we got ready and everything and after we’d all got dressed, we walked over to the mirrors right inside of the locker room, just kind of looking at our outfits and everything. He was telling me it was my time to shine. And I’m like, ‘appreciate you brudda, love you man.’ He was just like, ‘I love you too, man.’ We just kind of left it at that.

“So now I see exactly why his last words to me were I love you,” added Phillips. “I was telling coach (Sharrieff) Shah, it’s all making sense to me, trying so hard to understand it. This is the one time that really after the game we didn’t talk. I had media obligations that game because I had a pick-six. So after the game I went straight to media stuff, so I didn’t see him.”

Gonna cherish all the memories with you brotha. Love ya for life. Bro you inspired me when I was down. Kept a smile on my face at all times. I know you in a better place brotha. Until we meet again💔🙏🏿 LongLiveAlowe pic.twitter.com/tutbdyQaXw

— Clark Phillips lll (@ClarkPhillips21) September 26, 2021

Clark Phillips Getting Support From His Father, Family

Phillips’ family attends every game whether it’s on the road or at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Clark Phillips Sr. attended the Washington State game and flew home after the win on Saturday night. When CPIII received the news that Aaron Lowe was killed, he called his dad and he came back out to Utah to be with his son.

“It was special, makes me tear up just thinking about it because my dad’s always been my best friend, my supporter, biggest critic, he’s been all of that,” stated Phillips. “Really my mother’s right there with him. I’m grateful he was able to come out. He was the first person I called when I got the news. I just needed to hear his voice. I called him and I didn’t expect him to come out right away because I knew he had just landed. I was just calling him because I needed to hear pops  because I was broken. I probably wasn’t saying words. But I knew if anybody was going to understand me in that moment when I found out my best friend had died, it was gonna be pops. So I called him and next thing I know he was telling me he was headed out here. For the next five to six days I stayed with him at the hotel.

“He impromptu got a hotel, flew out here,” added Phillips. “I don’t know how much money he spent doing that, booking a day-of flight. I still got to pay him back. That’s why I’m playing my butt off right now, man so I can pay him back. He’s made some sacrifices and that’s just one of them. That ain’t nothing compared to what he’s done these last 20 years.”

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.