Louisville Secures 3-Star Florida DE Jabreel Stephens
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Louisville took another step towards the completion of their 2017 recruiting class accepting the verbal commitment of Florida three-star talent Jabreel Stephens on Wednesday.
Stephens is a standout defensive end/outside linebacker for Armwood High School. The Hawks posted a 14-1 mark in 2015 with a run to the Florida 6A state title game but lost to Miami Central for a third consecutive season in the finals. During the off-season, Armwood added Stephens to their roster from Jefferson High School (Tampa) and former Lennard quarterback Devin Black.
Through a 4-1 Hawks start to the 2016 season, Stephens has 27 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, four sacks, a forced fumble, and two passes broken up. Stephens was a first team All-Hillsborough County selection at the end of his junior campaign.
Louisville beat out offers from Kentucky, Temple, Arizona, Cal, FIU, Maryland, Syracuse, South Florida, and Central Florida, among others, for his commitment. Stephens posted his commitment on Twitter, “Taking My Talents To The Ville #BirdGang17.” The post was accompanied with a statement reading, “I Want To Thank God But I have chose [sic] to take my talent to the University of Louisville.”
The Cardinals now have 21 verbal commitments to their 2017 class. If all current commits hold, expect a running back and quarterback to be added along with a defensive tackle or two.
Louisville Cardinals 2017 Verbal Commitment List (21)
SS Rodney Owens, 6-0, 180, Ensworth HS, Nashville, TN
SS TreSean Smith, 6-1, 180, La Salle, Cincinnati, OH
SS Lyndarious Strange, 6-3, 190, North Florida, Tallahassee, FL
CB TJ Jallow, 6-1, 205, East Mississippi C.C., Scooba, MS
CB Anthony Johnson, 6-2, 180, Chaminade-Madonna, Hollywood, FL
CB Tre Norwood, 5-11, 170, Northside, Fort Smith, AR
CB Kaheen Roach, 6-1, 185, Miramar, Hollywood, FL
LB Malik Clark, 6-4, 235, Baldwin, Milledgeville, GA
LB Dorian Etheridge, 6-3, 210, Capital, Charleston, WV
LB Tadarrius Patterson, 6-1, 221, George Washington Carver, Birmingham, AL
DE Kam Jones, 6-1, 218, Peachtree Ridge, Suwanee, GA
DE/OLB Jabreel Stephens, 6-3.5, 228, Armwood HS, Seffner, FL
OG Cole Bentley, 6-4.5, 290, Belfry, Belfry, KY
OG Poutasi Poutasi, 6-4, 280, Desert Pines HS, Las Vegas, NV
OT Joey Palmer, 6-5, 305, Butler C.C., El Dorado, KS
OT Gerrik Vollmer, 6-5, 280, Phillip Barbour, Phillip, WV
TE Kemari Averett, 6-7, 215, Grady HS, Atlanta, GA
WR Josh Johnson, 5-11, 175, Woodward Academy, Atlanta, GA
WR Justin Marshall, 6-2, 185, Newton HS, Covington, GA
WR Corey Reed, 6-3, 200, Roswell, Roswell, GA
ATH Malik Cunningham, 6-0, 187, Park Crossing HS, Montgomery, AL
Photo credit: 247sports.com; Jabreel Stephens.