Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
I r i s h I n v a s i o n . "But after I fin- ished the camp, I talked to my par- ents and coach on the phone about it, and everything j u s t w e n t t h a t way." Stepherson com- mitted to the Irish under the lights in Notre Dame Sta- dium because he felt comfortable with the environ- ment around him. From the coaches to the academic support staff, he said it was a fit. "I just liked the guys that are around here, the education that the school can provide and the great football," Step- herson said. "I just love what the school is about. I like all the histori- cal things about it, I love what they're all about here and how everything is set up." Stepherson is in line to become the first Jacksonville- based recruit to sign with the Irish s i n c e f o u r- s t a r nose guard Louis Nix back in 2010. While the wide re- ceiver certainly doesn't have the same skill set as Nix, who started 30 games for Notre Dame over his career, he might eventually have just as much of an impact. FILM ANALYSIS Strengths One of the hottest prospects on the summer circuit, dominating every camp he attended … Shows game-breaking speed and explosiveness … Uses that speed to take the top off the de- fense and in the screen game, where he can turn a small crease into a home run … Strong hands, concentration and ball skills … Displays excellent foot quickness and dynamic potential as a route runner … Tremendous upside and potential. Areas To Improve Must be more assertive on the football field and start using his traits to dominate … Has to get stronger in order to win at the line and maximize his route running potential. — Bryan Driskell