• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

'07 TX RB Bradley Stephens (Texas A&M Verbal)

Found this article posted to start off the season in Texas....we're going to be reading a lot about Mr. Stephens in the next two years. Lots of publicity for having two years left to go...long article...edited down a bit

Texas HS Football

<table border="0" width="460"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="2">Texas HS Football Weekly Drill Vol. 1 No. 1 • Tuesday, August 23, 2005 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#666666"> <td colspan="2">Prospect Profile: Bradley Stephens </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top">Stephens brings explosive running style to the Valley </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top">By Christopher Lyke
Texas HS Football Chief Editor

If you ever had a chance to talk with Bradley Stephens one on one, you would never know the difference of the superstar in comparisons from a normal high school student to a star player on the varsity football team. Just like any normal teen who has stepped on a football field, Stephens has his dreams of a bright future playing in the NFL or become a college football headliner someday.

With over 3,000 yards rushing in his first two season at McAllen Memorial, Stephens has brought some well deserved attention to not only himself and his teammates, but also the entire Rio Grande Valley region. The arrival of Stephens to the recruiting scene may in fact open the door for many more undiscovered talents in the RGV region, which is experiencing perhaps the largest population growth in the entire country. The UIL in its bi-annual realignment in 2004, gave the region three Class 5A districts. The growth of the RGV is only a small microscope in why Stephens is getting looks from all over the country.

When watching Stephens on video or in person, you may find it easy to see two NFL legends with remarkably similar styles in his leadership and playmaking abilities. In fact, they are two legends that are held in high regards to the junior running back. "I like a lot of old school NFL players such as the Barry Sanders and Walter Payton because their running style is just unbelievable. The way they made people miss and read blocks is just amazing," Stephens said.

His running style and play making abilities has grabbed the attention of the Iowa State coaching staff, who sent an offer to Stephens earlier this summer. Other schools looking at luring Stephens includes Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas Tech, TCU, Houston, SMU,
Notre Dame, Washington and Texas State. But it is still early and Stephens still get a more looks, offers and interests from coast to coast....

In an interesting twist, Stephens is originally from the Chicago area. ....


"The recruiting process has been very exciting. As a kid you dream about playing college football and to start the recruiting process is a great feeling." Stephens said. Stephens is presently the highest recruited running back for a player at the running back among 2007 graduates. He is in even more demand than Noel Devine of North Fort Myers, FL or Chaz Jones of Cleveland Heights, OH....


One other unique feature that is attracting colleges to Stephens is his work off the field and in the classroom. " Academics is extremely important," Stephens stated. "My parents make sure I put school first and I have done a good job with that. I have a 4.0 GPA and I just got accepted into the National Honor Society (NHS)."...

So what makes Bradley Stephens the player that he has become today?

"My faith in Jesus Christ means everything to me. That's why I am on this earth and all the glory goes to Him and Him alone. I know for a fact that I wouldn't be the type a football player I am without Him blessing me with the talent He gave me," Stephens noted. Stephens presently serves as the president of his Fellowship of Christian Athletes Chapter....

"My parents are a huge part in who I am today. It's not even funny how much time and effort they put in for me to play football and I am very grateful for that. My Mom plays a big part in pre game events and stuff and my Dad plays a huge role in just helping out at running back. My dad played running back in college so his knowledge at that position is high."...

In pre-season action against Harlingen, Stephens generated 150 yards of offense on the ground in 10 carries, scoring three touchdowns as well as picking up 40+ yards in the air. McAllen Memorial opens the 2005 season on the road against Mission Memorial on Thursday, September 1...

</td></tr></tbody> </table>
 
Upvote 0
Good article. He sounds like such a great kid.

I hate to hijack the thread, but I have to just to ask a ?. Who is Chaz Jones. Maybe one of the mods might want to start a thread if he is as sought after as Devine considering he is from OHIO.

Ok back to Bradley.
 
Upvote 0
I do belive Chaz plays QB and Safety for Heights...

2006%20bradley%20stephens.jpg

Like 40 said back to Stephens, who is likely to be rated as the #1 RB recruit in the nation (Emfinger has him there already)!!! We may hear something on this front around the first of Sept.

I also love the fact that he has a great attitude and is a leader in the classroom. We may have some great backs in Ohio, but Stephens is the TG2 type of athlete that can add more than a running game, he is a great receiver as well. I get excited thinking of potentially landing Torrence (WR) and Stephens (RB) in the same class.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Tejas and A&M will be in early and hard on him, and if we want to have a great shot at landing him we need to extend an early offer, imo. The staff usually takes things like this slow and easy, and I hope if that is the way it plays out that the Stephens understand that it is JT's nature to be calm and steady in recruiting and on the field. I do believe that Stephens is the epitomy of a JT recruit.
 
Upvote 0
"My faith in Jesus Christ means everything to me. That's why I am on this earth and all the glory goes to Him and Him alone. I know for a fact that I wouldn't be the type a football player I am without Him blessing me with the talent He gave me," Stephens noted. Stephens presently serves as the president of his Fellowship of Christian Athletes Chapter....

Bradley will get along very well with Coach Tressel
 
Upvote 0
Article from above post
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="150"> <tbody><tr> <td>
082105A2.jpg
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="credit" align="right">Nathan Lambrecht </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="caption">McAllen Memorial High School running back Bradley Stephens is just entering his junior year, but he has already found himself in the good graces of football programs at universities across the country. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Colleges around U.S. courting McAllen running back
August 21,2005
Wade Baker
popup_icon.gif

The Monitor McALLEN — The first carry of his varsity career was a 76-yard touchdown.

He has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons at McAllen Memorial.

The Sporting News ranked him as the No. 6 football player in the class of 2007 — the No. 1 running back overall. And he has almost every major college in the country salivating at the chance to land him.

Welcome to the life of 16-year-old Bradley Stephens, who hasn’t played a single minute as a junior, but is well on his way to becoming the most highly recruited football player in Rio Grande Valley history.

"There’s no doubt, right now, he’s one of the top five backs in the country," said Max Emfinger, a national recruiting expert with more than 26 years in the business and a consultant for The Sporting News.

"No question, he’s the real deal."

In recent years, there have been few Valley players to gain as much hype as that surrounding Bradley. Former Mission High quarterback Koy Detmer (1989-91) signed with the University of Colorado, former Brownsville Hanna running back Tony Ellis (1993-95) signed with the University of Texas, and former Harlingen High running back Maurice Hunter (1993-94) drew heavy collegiate interest, but failed to qualify academically. None of the above, however, has received the celebrity treatment from college coaches that Bradley has this early in the recruiting process.

"There have been a few (in the Valley) to get the attention that Bradley Stephens has gotten, but not this early," McAllen High football coach Tony Harris said. "I mean, it doesn’t get any bigger than Texas. But (Bradley) hasn’t even started his junior season. That’s what sets Bradley apart from Tony Ellis and the others. He hasn’t played a single down as a junior."

Bradley secured his first NCAA Division I scholarship offer from Iowa State two weeks ago, rare for a football player entering his junior season. On an unofficial visit to Ames, Iowa, with his father Craig Stephens, he got an offer 10 minutes into his visit — from Iowa State coach Dan McCarney and the Cyclones’ running backs coach Tony Alford.

"Coach McCarney said, ‘Turn off the tape, that’s all I need to see,’" said Bradley, who owns a 4.0 grade point average. "The next thing I knew, they presented me with an official scholarship offer. On the spot."

Emfinger estimates the junior standout still can expect about a dozen or so offers from major NCAA Division I colleges by the midpoint of his junior season this year. Coaches at Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame and Washington are just some who have expressed interest in Bradley.

Under NCAA guidelines, college coaches cannot call Bradley directly until Sept. 1, the same day McAllen Memorial opens its season against Mission Veterans Memorial. College coaches can call Bradley’s high school coach, Bill Littleton, or send the junior e-mails.

Bradley, though, can contact the college coaches, and they can offer him scholarships at any time. He cannot officially sign a scholarship offer until February 2007.

"When Sept. 1 gets here, we’re going to have to put a switchboard in the house," said Craig Stephens, 44, who was a college running back at Illinois State. "The Iowa State coach (Alford) told us we better be prepared for the calls, the coaches, everything. He said he knew this because, when Sept. 1 gets here, he’s going to be camping out outside of our house."

Alford recently sent Bradley an e-mail telling him about an Iowa State alumnus who lives in the Valley.

"He told me that this guy (Bruce Eason) gets his hair cut at the same place I get mine cut," Bradley said. "How does he know where I get my hair cut? That surprised me. It’s like he’s a private investigator.

"He already knows everything about me."

When Bradley returned for a routine trim this past week, he had a few Iowa State posters waiting for him, courtesy of Eason.

"I’m amazed," Craig said. "I couldn’t believe that e-mail when I saw it."

His uncle, Robert Stephens, a 49-year-old associate professor of physiology at Ohio State, has experienced the hype surrounding his nephew all the way up in Columbus, Ohio. When an Ohio State alumni group discovered the connection between the two, Robert Stephens’ picture was posted on an Ohio State fan Web site, along with his e-mail address.

"I was blown away when I found out," the uncle said. "I knew Bradley was getting big, but not that big."

Littleton knows the type of attention his standout running back will receive and already is manning the phone lines with daily conversations from college coaches across the nation. One day it’s Texas A&M, the next it’s Ohio State. McAllen Memorial assistant coach Marcus Kaufmann and Craig Stephens even created a Web site — www.imageevent.com/mcallentxrb — for Bradley’s highlight videos.

"(The college coaches) just want me to tell Bradley that they called," Littleton said. "They can’t call him, but they can call me, and boy, do they. But we know how it’s going to get around here on Sept. 1. We know what to expect. I’ve dealt with athletes similar when I was at Cuero.

"We had our share of Division I football players go through there."

Even if life is getting a little hectic for Bradley, he’s enjoying the fame — for now.

"I’m having fun with it," he said. "There are times when I sit down and just shake my head in disbelief.

"But I just thank God every day that he’s given me this opportunity, the chance to be where I am right now."

———
Wade Baker is deputy sports editor of The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4450.
 
Upvote 0
Brownsville Herald

Mission: Stop Stephens


Viking gear up for showdown against Memorial, Stephens

By ROY HESS
The Brownsville Herald

September 9, 2005 — The challenge is clear for Pace tonight against McAllen Memorial.

The Vikings must stop or at least try to contain junior running back Bradley Stephens, a 5-foot-10, 190-pounder who is considered one of the top rushers in South Texas this season. In Memorial’s season-opening 37-17 win over Mission Veterans Memorial last week, Stephens rushed 27 times for 265 yards and three touchdowns.

Pace (1-0) travels to McAllen to face McAllen Memorial (1-0) at McAllen Memorial Stadium next to McAllen High. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:30.

"We have to stay psyched at all times and keep our intensity level up to stop the run wherever it goes," said Pace outside linebacker Daniel Bernard, a 5-8, 175-pound two-year starter who was the Vikings’ leading tackler last season. "If they pass, we have our cornerbacks and safety who will be ready to cover that, too.

"I would say that running is their main thing because Stephens is a great back, so that’s what we’ve really got to focus on," he added.

Coming off a strong effort in last Saturday’s 31-7 season-opening victory over Edinburg Economedes, the Vikings, under new defensive coordinator Danny Pardo, believe that they will be up to the challenge tonight. Pace returns six starters on defense from last year’s 8-3 playoff team.

Besides Bernard, the other returning starters are free safety Andres Martinez, cornerback Edgar Salinas, inside linebacker Alfonso Castillo, tackle Albert Almanza and end Severiano Cadena.

"Our kids really put a lot of effort into stopping the running game," Pardo said. "They play with a lot of heart and they came out and did basically what they were supposed to against Economedes. Their as-signments were well kept.

"It’s always a good confidence builder to do well going into this type of game against Memorial," Pardo added. "We’ll be going against a good offense with a good running back and a fullback that is just as good. We just can’t focus on Stephens. We have to be ready overall for just about anything that they can do.

"For us to do well, we’ve got to stay focused and keep our assignments. I don’t know if you can stop a kid like Stephens completely. We’re going to try to slow him down. If we can do what we’re supposed to do, I feel we’ll be OK."

The Vikings got off to a strong start defensively against Economedes by allowing the Jaguars only 175 yards, including just 58 on the ground.

"Our new guys are blending in well," said Martinez, a 5-11, 170-pound two-year starter. "We’re going to play hard and the ‘D’ unit’s going to step it up (against Memorial). We feel real motivated after the game we had against Economedes."

[email protected]

Posted by: Kathy Glynn on Sep 09, 05 | 12:00 am | Profile


 
Upvote 0
link

9/14/05

Stephens Stopped

Vikings, Wolfe tame Mustangs

By Chris Cobb
The Brownsville Herald


September 10, 2005 — McALLEN — In an evening filled with fireworks, Pace’s Matt Wolfe led Vikings, ranked eighth by TBH, past Bradley Stephens and the No. 7 McAllen Memorial Mustangs, 54-35, Friday night at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“What a track meet,” Pace head coach Rene Medrano said. “The kids wanted to play. They did a great job.”

Wolfe made it look easy. The senior picked apart the Memorial secondary, racking up 279 yards and six touchdowns. In fact, all three of his completions in the first half were for touchdowns.

“I think we surprised people tonight,” Wolfe said.


The inept Mustang defense looked surprised.

They allowed a total of 505 yards and struggled to stop Wolfe or an efficient Viking running game led by junior Alexis Garza. Garza finished the night with 195 yards on 24 carries including a 54-yard touchdown scamper.

“We played as a team,” Garza said. “We had real tough practices (this week), and this is what happens.”

Highly-touted Mustang running back Stephens lived up to expectations.

“He’s for real,” Medrano said. “You can’t stop a kid like that, you can only hope to contain him. He hurt us.”

Whether he was running, catching the ball out of the backfield or returning kicks, Stephens was electric.

He started the night with a 67-yard touchdown catch, followed it up with two touchdown runs, and then put the icing on the cake by taking a kickoff 88 yards into the end zone.

He finished with 164 yards rushing, 91 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

Stephens seemed to be the only one keeping Memorial in the game from the outset.

The Mustangs fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, leading to a Pace field goal and an early 3-0 lead. Wolfe’s first highlight came on their next possession, sailing a high-arching pass that hit wideout Mario Rios in stride for an 83-yard touchdown pass to go up 10-0 after the first quarter.

Memorial pulled within three, after scrambling quarterback Mitchell Bunger found Stephens for an eight-yard completion that turned into a 67-yard touchdown.

After a rare stop, the Mustangs drove the ball the length of the field and Stevens punched it in from the goal line to give Memorial a 14-10 lead.

With the first half winding down, Wolfe connected with wide receiver Andres Martinez for an 83-yard touchdown. Martinez finished the game with three catches for 116 yards.

After a Mustang fumble deep in their own territory, Wolfe fluttered a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Danny Reyna to take a 24-14 lead into the locker room.

The real scoring started in the second half. Pace struck first, driving the length of the field before Wolfe hit Curtis Ahn on a slant route to go up 31-14.

Stephens answered back, scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run, which Wolfe matched on the next drive, throwing a 33-yard touchdown to Martinez.

Stephens then ran back the kickoff to make the score 38-28 and keep the Mustangs’ hopes alive.

But Wolfe again kept Pace a step ahead, throwing a sixth and final touchdown pass, a 30-yard strike to Garza.

Memorial didn’t quit. A seven-yard touchdown run by Nick Moore again reduced it to a ten-point deficit at 45-35.

But after Garza took a handoff up the middle 54 yards to the end zone, the game was all but over. The Viking defense forced a safety at the end to make the final 54-35.

[email protected]
 
Upvote 0
Back
Top