Interview: 2019 California QB Ryan Stevens is Spinning the Ball around the Yard for College Coaches all Spring

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Action Photo credit: Raymond Joyce Photography at the Rise and Fire Camp

Twitter: @RJPSports

Ryan Stevens jumped firmly on the college football recruiting trail during his sophomore season helping lead Chaminade High School to an 8-4 season. Stevens started the final seven games of the 2016 campaign for the Eagles hitting 83-of-130 pass attempts covering 1,269 yards with nine touchdowns posted. The budding talents displayed last season has brought college coaches to the West Hills practice field this spring wanting to get a closer look at one of California’s under the radar gems.

During the 2016 season, the Eagles had the luxury of handing the ball of to four-star tailback TJ Pledger. Pledger was dominating rushing for 1,881 yards off 231 carries with 32 scores. Pledger, a Nebraska commit, is now at IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) putting a heavier weight upon Stevens’ shoulders in 2017. The good thing for Eagles’ head coach Ed Croson, Stevens is ready for the challenge.

Beyond being ridiculously accurate having completed 64 percent of his passes against tough Mission League talent last season, Stevens is fundamentally sound in the pocket with great pre-snap reads. He also has the mobility to elude pressure and move the chains with his legs. When dropping back in the pocket, Stevens has a strong arm to fit the pigskin into tight windows and has great touch on the deep ball.

The show Stevens gave in the passing game came against teams like Bishop Amat, Long Beach Poly, and Centennial, the nation’s No. 8 ranked team in 2016, has peaked next level interest. College coaches are coming around on Stevens, even if he does not fit the prototypical mold just yet. The 6-1, 172 pound, gunslinger is pulling in interest from all over the country with squads like USC, Cal, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Boise State, Northwestern, Hawaii, and UCLA all dropping into the LA area school to see Stevens in person.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Stevens after two unofficial visits and a slew of spring evaluators on the Chaminade campus to get an update on his spring so far.

Interview

Ryan, how are off-season workouts going for you and the team?

“Off-season works have gone well so far. I am working on quick reads and having faster feet. Our offense plays fast. We have to, we play against top competitors in the country. Every day in practice we are doing 7v7 and 11 v 11 drills.”

How have the spring practices gone for you personally?

“Very well. I’ve been working with our wide receivers on routes and reads. We have been out there every day the past two weeks on the field and in the weight room working for next season.”

Will the offense change at all for you next season?

“We have implemented more plays. We’ve been working on those new plays with different routes.”

The spring evaluation period has college coaches from all over the country coming to LA, which schools have stopped by Chaminade to see you throw so far?

“Stanford, Washington State, Hawaii, UCLA, Boise State, Washington, Northwestern, and Yale.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits this spring?

“I have taken two, one to University of Chicago and one to Rice.”

How did your trip to Chicago go?

“Very well. I met with their head coach and saw their facilities. I like the area. I went to some of the classes and lectures with a friend of mine that goes to school there. I really liked the school overall.”

How did your trip to Rice go?

“It went well. I met with the whole staff there. I spoke with their head coach for about an hour. I really liked him and their facilities.”

 

Do you have any upcoming visits planned?

“I am planning on going to a Washington camp and visiting the school then. I am also planning on going to camps at UCLA and USC. I might go to some Ivy League camps this summer. The West Coast Elite camp in Pomona will have all the Ivy League schools there.”

Are there any other camps you might attend this summer?

“I’m thinking of going to a Claremont camp. I might go to Columbia too. My dad has a business trip to New York during one of their camps (Columbia). I want to go to a University of North Carolina camp. One of their coaches sent me a letter inviting me to their camp.”

You’ve listed out a lot of camps and schools that have come by to see you throw, there may be some overlap here, but which schools are showing interest in you?

“Wyoming, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, USC, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin, Florida State, San Jose State, and San Diego State.”

That is a lot. When you have had a chance to talk to the coaches, what are they telling you they like about your skillset?

“They like my quick release. I have been told I am a very special lefty. Hawaii’s coach told me that. They really like how I release the ball and how accurate I am. They also told me they normally do not like left-handed quarterbacks.”

Let’s wrap up in the classroom. How is school going?

“Great. This year has been a hard year with some AP classes, but I’m pulling through. I’m looking at getting my GPA above a 4.0. I got a 1300 on the SAT. I’m taking the ACT soon.”

Congratulations on all the college interest and great results in the classroom. Ryan, thanks for your time today and good luck with all the upcoming camps.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Ryan Stevens at a Rise and Fire camp.

Photo credit: Stevens family; Ryan Stevens at the University of Chicago.