Tag: Kevin Stepherson

Notre Dame’s top 25 3-star recruits since 2010

Just because someone is a three-star doesn’t mean they can’t be great.

In the world of recruiting, rankings clearly matter. It’s no shock that when you look at the best teams nationally, they’re the ones who usually ranked the highest in team recruiting rankings during the previous three or four years.  Maybe the top team doesn’t always have the top class, but you can bet they’re in or right there with the top-five nationally.

Another key part of recruiting comes to finding those diamonds in the rough.  That isn’t to knock three-star talents, but the hype around them clearly isn’t the same when a five-star prospect visits campus or commits to a program.

We decided to go back and rank the top three-star players Notre Dame brought to campus dating to the start of Brian Kelly’s run at Notre Dame that began with the 2010 recruiting class. Here are the top 25 of those such players in the last roughly dozen years.

The 247Sports composite was used in each player’s star rating for this piece. 

Former Notre Dame player works out at Alabama pro day

Roll Tide, Roll? Let’s not get crazy but nice to see this former Irish player seemingly straightening things out.

Much has been made in recent years about the lack of production freshman wide receivers have had during Brian Kelly’s time at Notre Dame.

One of the exceptions to that general rule is Kevin Stepherson, Jr. who pulled in 25 receptions for over 460 yards and five touchdowns his freshman year back in 2016.

A year later he put up another 359 yards and five more touchdowns before off the field issues lead to his dismissal from the University.

Stepherson wound up at Jacksonville State where he pulled in 36 receptions for over 470 yards and six touchdowns in 2019.

On Tuesday, Stepherson was able to showcase his skills as a special invitee to Alabama’s pro day.

 

Stepherson starred at First Coast High School in Jacksonville, Florida before enrolling at Notre Dame.

All the best to him as he continues to try and make his NFL dream come true.

Related Notre Dame-NFL draft coverage:

Aaron Banks passed up chance to play LT at Notre Dame

WR Ben Skowronek to miss his pro day

Former Notre Dame wide receiver on the move again

Kevin Stepherson was a receiver who made an instant impact for Notre Dame during his freshman year in 2016.  Although the wins weren’t there for the team, Stepherson impressed with 25 receptions for over 400 yards and five touchdowns.

Kevin Stepherson was a receiver who made an instant impact for Notre Dame during his freshman year in 2016.  Although the wins weren’t there for the team, Stepherson impressed with 25 receptions for over 400 yards and five touchdowns.

A year later he again found the end zone five more times while he hauled in another 359 yards.  But that would be it for Stepherson in a Notre Dame uniform as multiple arrests for possession of marijuana and attempting to steal a pair of sweatpants from Macy’s ended things.

Stepherson got back into football, spending 2019 at Jacksonville State where he hauled in 36 receptions for 479 yards and six scores.  Wednesday brought news that Stepherson has entered the transfer portal as he looks to find where he’ll use his final year of eligibility.

Stepherson was listed at 6-1, 185 pounds last season with Jacksonville State.  Here’s to hoping he has put his past issues in the rear view mirror and can stay on the right track in his final year of eligibility.