Phillip Ely is in his second season as a graduate assistant for the Cyclones. Ely assisted with the defense in 2016 and will focus on the offense in 2017.

Ely is a 2014 graduate of Toledo, where he led the Rockets to a 10-2 record and a victory in the Boca Raton Bowl as their starting quarterback.

Ely, who played two seasons at Toledo after transferring from Alabama, threw for 2,965 yards and 23 TDs against only 10 interceptions in his only full season as a starter in 2015. He missed the majority of his junior season (2014) after suffering a knee injury.

A native of Tampa, Fla., Ely was a member of the Alabama football team for three seasons (2011-13), earning a pair of national championship rings. He played in six games as a backup QB for the Crimson Tide during the 2012 campaign.

Ely was recruited to Alabama after a decorated career at Plant High School in Tampa. He led Plant to a pair of Florida state titles and was named a U.S. Army All-American.