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

[BGIF]

It's actually comical that there is no official reason why KS didn't play the first 4 games.

First season following college football ... or Notre Dame?

 

[Wingman Ray]

It's actually comical that there is no official reason why KS didn't play the first 4 games.

Yeah I would love to know this one. Im guessing something legit or Im sure the players parents would be making waves by now

 

[NDVirginia19]

My guess is that it was something internally that he did to a teammate that needed to be punished harshly, but that there was no NCAA reason to suspend. BK gives him the punishment, but saves his public reputation by not letting the dishonorable thing he did get out there

 

[md_bennett]

If you listen to BK he always stresses academics when saying he is doing the right things. Maybe a new internal monitoring that forces students to be making progress or be sat for 4 games until they bring it back up. Would be much better than whole seasons lost again.

 

[NDdomer2]

or it could be he was the only one arrested last year that didnt complete his deferral program and therefore was officially charged.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

or it could be he was the only one arrested last year that didnt complete his deferral program and therefore was officially charged.

Wouldn't this be on public record?

 

[NDdomer2]

Wouldn't this be on public record?

as far as Kelly saying its the reason for his suspension? No. As far as did he actual end up getting charged yes, i believe this thread has the links following his case along the way.

If i am not mistaken his situation ended up being different than the others who were in the car.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

or it could be he was the only one arrested last year that didnt complete his deferral program and therefore was officially charged.

My thought is that after that incident he got put on a stricter drug testing schedule and maybe failed one or just missed a test. It would only be his first one failed so he would have to miss 1/3 of the season AKA the four games we know he has to miss. It would also explain why Kelly can't officially comment on in, because it is an athletic department issue that is handled internally. I know that in cases of failed athletics drug tests, the results do not even get reported to the administration, thats how internalized they are. Hell, Kelly might not even know; in at least some cases the athletic department doesn't tell the coach, though that might just be for when athletes are on probation. It would also fit the narrative because we know he was already caught with weed once and yet he is the only one of that group (besides Redfield) who is still in trouble for it.

 

[NDdomer2]

My thought is that after that incident he got put on a stricter drug testing schedule and maybe failed one or just missed a test. It would only be his first one failed so he would have to miss 1/3 of the season AKA the four games we know he has to miss. It would also explain why Kelly can't officially comment on in, because it is an athletic department issue that is handled internally. I know that in cases of failed athletics drug tests, the results do not even get reported to the administration, thats how internalized they are. Hell, Kelly might not even know; in at least some cases the athletic department doesn't tell the coach, though that might just be for when athletes are on probation. It would also fit the narrative because we know he was already caught with weed once and yet he is the only one of that group (besides Redfield) who is still in trouble for it.

and this would fit the bill as well. I personally dont think its grades/academic, or anything against a teammate.

 

[stlnd01]

If i am not mistaken his situation ended up being different than the others who were in the car.

In that Dexter Williams and Tevon Coney are playing for Notre Dame, Max Redfield and Ashton White left Notre Dame and Stepherson is somewhere in the middle?

Seriously, though, the way this is being handled certainly looks like he violated some university rules and is on some form of university probation.

 

[koonja]

ISD hinting that there is talk that he'll be available this week. I don't see BK letting him out of the dog house that quickly and him getting a lot of play this week, but it's good news.

 

[greyhammer90]

ISD hinting that there is talk that he'll be available this week. I don't see BK letting him out of the dog house that quickly and him getting a lot of play this week, but it's good news.

Wasnt it confirmed that it was a four week suspension awhile ago? Or was that just a rumor?

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Kevin is coming back? Well, here come even more drops. - Irish Envy

 

[Irish2155]

Be a perfect game to get him acclimated to game speed again before UNC then USC.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Wasnt it confirmed that it was a four week suspension awhile ago? Or was that just a rumor?

The South Bend Tribune reported it, but the staff never confirmed.

 

[koonja]

Wasnt it confirmed that it was a four week suspension awhile ago? Or was that just a rumor?

I think that was an educated guess but wasn't confirmed.

So I'm not sporting 'breaking news', but more so that our assumptions appear to be correct.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

ISD hinting that there is talk that he'll be available this week. I don't see BK letting him out of the dog house that quickly and him getting a lot of play this week, but it's good news.

For all we know, BK might be wanting to get him on the field. We don't know for sure how/why he was suspended in the first place...Wouldn't be the first time BK has took a suspended player and put him back in the spotlight (Tommy, Michael, etc)

 

[benneboy]

Kevin is coming back? Well, here come even more drops. - Irish Envy

Stepherson might have the best hands on the team so don't even get the sarcasm.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Stepherson might have the best hands on the team so don't even get the sarcasm.

I'm fairly certain he was criticized (unrealistically) last year for having too many drops at times.

 

[dublinirish]

I'm fairly certain he was criticized (unrealistically) last year for having too many drops at times.

he had a bunch of drops in training camp, most of the beat writers said he would drop routine catches and then make highlight reel grabs in the endzone. They put it down to a lack of focus.

 

[irishrb]

He will help stretch the field....He NEEDS to be in the line-up. IF he had 4 games, it's over...time served...move on...PLAY your BEST players!

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Hopefully a few reps will light a fire under him. We can go deep on the first play to Stepherson and put the remaining scheduled teams on notice.

I've said this since last year, we need Stepherson to really make this offense go. That type of speed/ball tracking changes the entire dynamic of an offense. It opens up the middle, softens the safeties and even gives the RBs more room to operate (and if it does none of that because the team still wants to stack the box then we will continually win 1v1 matchups.)

I hope he gets at least 5 targets in this upcoming game. Claypool can shift to the slot and ESB can be paired with Stepherson. Would be an incredible grouping to go with our TEs.

 

[dublinirish]

Hopefully a few reps will light a fire under him. We can go deep on the first play to Stepherson and put the remaining scheduled teams on notice.

I've said this since last year, we need Stepherson to really make this offense go. That type of speed/ball tracking changes the entire dynamic of an offense. It opens up the middle, softens the safeties and even gives the RBs more room to operate (and if it does none of that because the team still wants to stack the box then we will continually win 1v1 matchups.)

I hope he gets at least 5 targets in this upcoming game. Claypool can shift to the slot and ESB can be paired with Stepherson. Would be an incredible grouping to go with our TEs.

Cam Smith played really well in the slot against MSU, his blocking from that position was very good.

 

[NDRock]

I think that was an educated guess but wasn't confirmed.

So I'm not sporting 'breaking news', but more so that our assumptions appear to be correct.

What’s your source inside the program saying?

 

[greyhammer90]

I think that was an educated guess but wasn't confirmed.

So I'm not sporting 'breaking news', but more so that our assumptions appear to be correct.

I got you. I just didn't know if I had dreamt that or not. I've been under the assumption he'd be back this game the whole time so its good to know I wasn't crazy.

 

[Irish Insanity]

What’s your source inside the program saying?

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

 

[koonja]

What’s your source inside the program saying?

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I know nothing about this one unfortunately.

 

[koonja]

And just like that, not on the weekly depth chart that just came out. And not asked about at BK's press conference.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Cam Smith played really well in the slot against MSU, his blocking from that position was very good.

I'm happy he can block and he can still get a ton of reps but he isn't Stepherson. The same way none of our current WRs are Will Fuller. Speed is a killer on the outside.

 

[Free Manera]

He might be available this week but not on the depth chart because he needs to work his way back. He could get mop up time then start getting real time next week. I hope this is the case at least.