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Friday, January 13, 2012

Tulare Union's Stephens commits to Nevada - Visalia Times-Delta

The Nevada Wolf Pack have been one of the top college football programs on the West Coast since 2005, and they've received a handful of stalwart players from the Tulare Union Redskins.

So it should come as no surprise that with their move to the Mountain West Conference next season, the Wolf Pack are looking in Tulare Union's direction again for a starring player.

Xavier Stephens made a verbal commitment this week to play college football at Nevada. He is expected to sign his official letter of intent on Feb. 1, college football's national signing day.

"It feels pretty good," Stephens said about making his verbal commitment. "It feels like I have a great chance to play there. I'm looking forward to it."

Stephens, the 2011 Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register Bob Mathias Award winner, had a stellar three-year varsity career at Tulare Union.

He is just the second Tulare Union player to rush for over 1,000 yards in three seasons (former state prep record holder and former Mountain West rushing champion Dominique Dorsey was the first).

Stephens rushed for 4,134 yards and scored 83 touchdowns in his high school career. In 2011, he led all Tulare County players with 36 touchdowns and rushed for 1,405 yards.

The major recruiting services had Stephens listed at fullback or linebacker.

ESPN.com has Stephens ranked as the nation's 10th best fullback for the Class of 2012. Scout.com lists Stephens as No. 78 amongst middle linebackers.

But early indications are that the Wolf Pack see Stephens as a running back in their pistol offense.

"Very surprised; I wasn't expecting that," Stephens said.

The Wolf Pack have favored strong, physical running backs in their pistol offense that has ranked among the nation's most prolific in terms of rushing yards. Stephens, at 6-0 and 220 pounds, definitely fits the bill as a strong, physical back.

"I'm pretty excited about playing [running back]," Stephens said. "I've been running in the pistol offense here, so I'm used to it. I hope to do great things for them at running back or linebacker."

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Stephens becomes the fourth Tulare Union player to play college football at Nevada since Darren Bennett became the Redskins' head coach in 1995:

ª Nichiren Flowers, a 2001 Tulare Union graduate, ranks among the top receivers in Nevada history with 214 career receptions, 2,648 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns.

ª Virgil Green, a 2006 Tulare Union graduate, was an all-Western Athletic Conference standout for the Wolf Pack before going on to the National Football League this season with the Denver Broncos. Green had 71 career catches for 911 yards and 11 touchdowns at Nevada. He was a 2011 seventh-round pick of the Broncos.

ª Jeremiah Green, a 2009 Tulare Union graduate, just completed his first season as a starting linebacker for the Wolf Pack. He had 43 tackles and three interceptions, including returning one pick 56 yards for a touchdown.

"I realized that we've had a few great players from [Tulare Union] go to Nevada, and they did very well. And they're a good football program, a very good football program," Stephens said.

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