'16 FL WR Kevin Stepherson (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[Sherm Sticky]

That's crazy considering he most likely won't be a starter.

ESB
Boykins
Claypool

First world WR problems...


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[Domina Nostra]

That's crazy considering he most likely won't be a starter.

ESB
Boykins
Claypool

First world WR problems...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe he doesn't start against Temple, but Stephenson will definitely be a starter for the vast majority of games.

 

[dad4aa]

Maybe he doesn't start against Temple, but Stephenson will definitely be a starter for the vast majority of games.

Not if he can't learn the plays.

 

[Irish Man3]

Stepherson is definitely a starter if he has off the field stuff cleared up. Boykin had a good spring and Claypool has shown flashes but Stepherson is the clear #2 behind ESB.

Best route runner on the team and brings the homerun threat to the offense.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Not if he can't learn the plays.

He was on the field as an EE freshman in a new offense. Doesn't seem like that's a struggle for him.

 

[BobbyMac]

It'll be interesting to look back once the season is done to see how the snaps shook out. The one thing that hasn't been mentioned here is Cam Smith, his speed, his experience and his history with Long and Alexander.

Who knew as I sat behind the Sun Devils in '14, cursing their WR, OC and WR coach as Devin Butler got toasted on a 43 yd TD that 3 seasons later, all three of the perps would be Irish and Butler wouldn't.

 

[dwshade]

Stepherson is definitely a starter if he has off the field stuff cleared up. Boykin had a good spring and Claypool has shown flashes but Stepherson is the clear #2 behind ESB.

Best route runner on the team and brings the homerun threat to the offense.

Agreed. Keeps his head straight he'll be playing on Sundays.

 

[dad4aa]

He was on the field as an EE freshman in a new offense. Doesn't seem like that's a struggle for him.

Not sure how it was a new offense last year unless you are referring to him coming from high school to college as a new offense, but he has been struggling a bit this spring

 

[dwshade]

Don't believe he was struggling this spring. It is still essentially Kelly's offense with some variations. Nothing complicated. Verbiage is very similar.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Not sure how it was a new offense last year unless you are referring to him coming from high school to college as a new offense, but he has been struggling a bit this spring

Provide the reports that support your claim. He was in the doghouse but was not struggling according to any of the reports I saw. I read he wasn't being given first or second team reps despite still looking like one of our best players.

 

[Irish Man3]

It'll be interesting to look back once the season is done to see how the snaps shook out. The one thing that hasn't been mentioned here is Cam Smith, his speed, his experience and his history with Long and Alexander.

Who knew as I sat behind the Sun Devils in '14, cursing their WR, OC and WR coach as Devin Butler got toasted on a 43 yd TD that 3 seasons later, all three of the perps would be Irish and Butler wouldn't.

Cam Smith is a wild card. How will the injury play into what he does on the field with his speed?

 

[stlnd01]

Just wanted to share something on ISD

But some around the program have said Stepherson COULD be the best player on the team



https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/9123

Sure. As long as he suits up this fall.

 

[dad4aa]

Provide the reports that support your claim. He was in the doghouse but was not struggling according to any of the reports I saw. I read he wasn't being given first or second team reps despite still looking like one of our best players.

I didn't read it from any report. Was mentioned in a discussion with some of the players/staff.

 

[Irish Man3]

I didn't read it from any report. Was mentioned in a discussion with some of the players/staff.

Not buying into this at all.

 

[BobbyMac]

Not buying into this at all.

You should be very open to the idea.

 

[dad4aa]

Cam Smith is a wild card. How will the injury play into what he does on the field with his speed?

I think he will surprise people this year. Freddy will too.

 

[Irish Man3]

I think he will surprise people this year. Freddy will too.

Cam Smith I can see having an impact. ND doesn't have a lot of speed guys.

Freddy, I would be more surprised with. Time will tell.

 

[IrishLion]

There were a couple analysts/reporters that were pretty open during spring practice about how Stepherson was not always running full speed, and that he seemed to be running the wrong routes more often that he should have.

That left him at the back of the line taking reps a lot, and is probably why he's not being featured yet.

Maybe he's just a case of the guy who is a "gamer," and the coaching staff is going to have to manage that.

 

[Domina Nostra]

There were a couple analysts/reporters that were pretty open during spring practice about how Stepherson was not always running full speed, and that he seemed to be running the wrong routes more often that he should have.

That left him at the back of the line taking reps a lot, and is probably why he's not being featured yet.

Maybe he's just a case of the guy who is a "gamer," and the coaching staff is going to have to manage that.

Everything I heard made it sound like he was in the doghouse.

 

[IrishLion]

Everything I heard made it sound like he was in the doghouse.

Maybe they go hand-in-hand?

He's in the doghouse for his off-field habits, and rather than busting ass to get back into the good graces of the staff, he just kind of lollygags in practice since he's not being featured, and the cycle continues?

Combine that with his legitimate legal issues that came up, and he's got some stuff to take care of.

You can't have bad habits, then get into actual legal trouble, and then decide to loaf in terms of effort and playbook knowledge when those problems manifest in lack of depth chart position.

But he's sooooo fast, that you almost need to use him anyway lol

 

[Domina Nostra]

I thought it was from Day 1 of Spring camp, so I assumed it was trouble/work ethic and stuff like that.

It's consistent with what I heard that he wasn't ready to be built by Ballis, although that's just congecture, but I never personally heard anyone connect it to trouble learning plays.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I stand corrected. Whatever it was, I hope it's in the past because he can be a difference maker this fall. Wimbush has the arm to power it down field (although I don't know if he has the touch like Kizer did) so we need someone that can always get over the top.

With our OL and young QB, you know defenses will be stacking the box and challenging Wimbush to beat them. Stepherson lined up opposite ESB with one of our slots/jumbo receivers or two TE sets would go a very long way in helping Wimbush gain confidence.

We could literally have 3-4 gamebreakers on the field at all times.

 

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Curious case of Kevin Stephenson today. Made an incredible one-handed catch. Then suffers some bizarre drops. Not active with 1st/2nd teams.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/892480259509112833">August 1, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[IrishFanForever23]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Curious case of Kevin Stephenson today. Made an incredible one-handed catch. Then suffers some bizarre drops. Not active with 1st/2nd teams.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/892480259509112833">August 1, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Been the same story since winter and spring workouts. Kid did something to piss off those in power. He's probably the best WR we have, so running him with the 2's and 3's still at this point, tells me he's not out of the doghouse just yet.

 

[calvegas04]

Been the same story since winter and spring workouts. Kid did something to piss off those in power. He's probably the best WR we have, so running him with the 2's and 3's still at this point, tells me he's not out of the doghouse just yet.

Or he isn't the best WR on the team

 

[Greenore]

I stand corrected. Whatever it was, I hope it's in the past because he can be a difference maker this fall. Wimbush has the arm to power it down field (although I don't know if he has the touch like Kizer did) so we need someone that can always get over the top.

With our OL and young QB, you know defenses will be stacking the box and challenging Wimbush to beat them. Stepherson lined up opposite ESB with one of our slots/jumbo receivers or two TE sets would go a very long way in helping Wimbush gain confidence.

We could literally have 3-4 gamebreakers on the field at all times.

Respectfully, do you figure Kizer was a more accurate passer than Wimbush downfield? I've only seen High School film on Wimbush but without a "Will Fullerish" type on the team, Kizer seemed to overthrow or rush his passes. Love Kizer and hope he does big things for the Dogs, but is it fair to compare him with Wimbush at this stage? From old game film, I think Wimbush has the touch. My opinion anyway. Cheers!

 

[GBdomer]

Or he isn't the best WR on the team

Yes he is, many around the program think he's the best player on the team. Between getting arrested and never going 100% and his drops is why he runs with the 2's and 3's. He needs to earn his trust back or his teammates and coaches. When ND is playing Georgia I can almost promise you KJ will not be sitting on the bench. He will be a major part of the offense this year

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Respectfully, do you figure Kizer was a more accurate passer than Wimbush downfield? I've only seen High School film on Wimbush but without a "Will Fullerish" type on the team, Kizer seemed to overthrow or rush his passes. Love Kizer and hope he does big things for the Dogs, but is it fair to compare him with Wimbush at this stage? From old game film, I think Wimbush has the touch. My opinion anyway. Cheers!

I think Kizer was really good on the deep ball but I think he lacked composure for stretches. I think it was just a comfort thing. I think Kizer had too many mental lapses but all of the tools. His downfield throws to Fuller in the USC game two years ago (amongst many others) were some of the most perfectly thrown balls I can remember. And against stiff competition.

I'm in wait and see mode with Wimbush. Plenty of people can sling 50+ yds with no accuracy and we already know he has the arm strength, I just want to see touch on his deep passes (amongst other things).

Composure is another thing I want to see, and pocket presence. Basically I want Tom Brady's mind with 2006-2011 Peyton Manning's arm. I don't think that's too much to ask.

 

[Irish Man3]

Or he isn't the best WR on the team

He is though....

 

[BobbyMac]

Yes he is, many around the program think he's the best player on the team. Between getting arrested and never going 100% and his drops is why he runs with the 2's and 3's. He needs to earn his trust back or his teammates and coaches. When ND is playing Georgia I can almost promise you KJ will not be sitting on the bench. He will be a major part of the offense this year

Many around the program might think he has the potential to be the best player or maybe he's physically the most gifted but no one thinks he's the best player on ND. Right now Q and McG are vying for that position and everyone else has to prove they belong in the convo. And ESB is the best WR until he's not and he has the math to prove it.

I will agree, if it wasn't for the drops, the inconsistent route running, the laziness and the poor behavior off the field and the... well you get the picture.

Could finish as high as #3 in receptions behind AM and ESB but I'll go #5. I think Cam Smith is grabbing his job.