( The Region’s #1 WR Deshawn Stephens 6-4 195 Sr. ATH/S) |
There are a host of talented WR’s in the Pacific Northwest, but the #1 wide out hands down is Deshawn Stephens (6-4 190 Sr. WR/ATH/S) out of Putnam HS in Milwaukie, Oregon. In 2011 he proceeded to go off for 40+ Tds in what was one of the most remarkable seasons we can remember. He was a man amongst boys and he wasn’t even a senior.
We were able to break the story about the talented young man early in the season last year before continuing his tear. He was selected as part of NEI-South (Team Oregon) that traveled to Vegas with us and competed at the national tournament. What he did there was nothing short of phenomenal. Out of both teams that we took he was easily the MVP and one of the top WR’s in attendance nation wide. He was recognized on a national level by Scout.Com as an All Camp performer, catching 7 Tds and helping Team Oregon to its best finish ever.
No one has ever questioned Stephens skill level. He is a filthy athlete both on the football field and the basketball court, and is an unquestioned big time D1 receiver if he can keep his academics right. Deshawn struggled in the classroom and put himself in a hole, but to his credit he has barred down and spent the the last 3-4 months with a tutor and gotten things straightened out.
Head Coach Brad Lewman says, " Deshawn has done a great job getting things turned around in the classroom, and has been out working really hard with his teammates". Lewman should be considered the best hire in Rex Putnam High School Football history and there isn’t a close second. NEI will have Putnam ranked in the 5A Top 10, something the Kingsmen are not at all use to. They made dramatic improvements a year ago, but have had an incredible off season and Coach Lewman likes their chances if they can show up and execute.
Deshawn says, "If we want any success we need to take it one day at a time, thinking to far ahead will cause us to lose focus about the task at hand and the game on Friday night….It starts with the leadership from our senior class with most of our success revolving around QB Max Bailey who is one hell of a quarterback". He continued, " We’ve been best friends since we were five, and ever since then he has been throwing me Tds… he needs to be a vocal leader and show everybody what he is made of".
Watching Deshawn ball in Vegas was an eye opener. He beat kids up and down the field from Oakland, LA, San Diego, Houston and a host of other places where people take their football very seriously. One of the biggest knocks on Oregon HS football is the overall competition level, and Stephens was able to put any questions to rest at the national tourny as he dominated everybody.
He says, " I want to help my team be a top contender within the state and help prove a lot of doubters wrong…I want to let everyone know that we belong and can straight out ball, I won’t stop until my goals are fulfilled and my body won’t let me go any more..Motto of the year: Be Legendary"
Stephens will play a variety of positions and will have the ball in his hands a lot according to Lewman. His primary position will be as a receiver, but look for him at slot, QB, running back, and as a returner on a variety of fronts. He has a Dennis Dixon type approach and is so very versatile. There are very few people that come out of the northwest in high school where you say thats an NFL kid if he applies himself, but this is one. Congrats to Deshawn on all of his accomplishments thus far, we will hear much more from him as the year continues.
Stephens (UNLV) National 7 on 7 Tourney -Vegas Highlights
Deshawn Stephens HUDL Highlights
(Stephens was ranked among the top receivers in the country at the National tourney in Vegas)
( NEI- South and Deshawn Stephens (7 Tds) lead Team Oregon to their best finish ever)
