Chad Stephens

Position:
Inside Linebacker
Height:
6-0
Weight:
245
Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Hometown:
Greensboro
High School:
Southeast Guilford HS
Major:
University Studies

Career Notes: Five-year letterman (2020-24) who played in 56 games making 34 starts … Closed out collegiate career having started 32 consecutive games … Named Honorable Mention All-American Athletic Conference by the leagues head coaches in 2023 … Recorded 15 tackles (76 solo) … Credited with 29.0 TFLs (-116 yards) with 8.0 sacks (-55 yards) … Added 10 quarterback hurries … Recorded at least one tackle in 47 of 56 contests (multiple 41 times) … Since 2022, logged 1,544 total snaps (1,434 defense, 110 special teams) … Helped ECU to three bowl appearances since 2021 (Military Bow/’21, win vs. Coastal in Birmingham Bowl’22, win vs. NC State in Military Bowl/’24).

2024: Started all 13 games for the Pirates earning fifth varsity letter … Logged 499 total snaps (469 defense, 30 special teams) … Booked 41 tackles (15 solo) … Recorded 3.5 TFLs (-17 yards) that included an 11-yard sack at Charlotte … Recovered one fumble (North Texas) returning it six yards … Credited with a quarterback hurry against UTSA … Booked at least one tackle in all 13 contests (multiple 11 times) … Tallied at least three stops in 10 games, including the first nine of the season … Credited with TFLs against Norfolk State (0.5/-2 yards), Liberty (0.5/-1 yard), UTSA (0.5/no yards) and Charlotte (1.0/-11 yards) … One of 22 players to receive the Captain’s Award … Selected as gameday captain against Florida Atlantic … Named Preseason First Team All-AAC by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Magazine in 2024 ... Preseason Third Team All-AAC selection by College Football Network in 2024.

2023: Named Honorable Mention All-American Athletic Conference by the leagues head coaches (11/29) … Started all 12 games earning fourth varsity letter … Logged 506 total snaps (471 defense, 35 special teams) … Booked 41 tackles (19 solo) … Tallied 12.0 TFLs (minus 58 yards) that included 3.5 sacks (minus 27 yards) … Credited with four quarterback hurries … Registered multiple tackles in all 12 contests … Recorded sacks against Rice (1.0/-9 yards), SMU (0.5/-2 yards), UTSA (1.0/-6 yards) and Florida Atlantic (1.0/-10 yards) … Also tallied at least a half TFLs versus Michigan (1.0), Marshall (1.0), Appalachian State (1.0), Gardner-Webb (0.5), Rice (2.5), SMU (1.0), Charlotte (0.5), UTSA (2.0), Florida Atlantic (2.0) and Tulsa (0.5) … Tied career-high with eight tackles (three solo) against Charlotte … Credited with QBHs against Gardner-Webb (1), SMU (1) and UTSA (2) … Forced a fumble against Marshall … Named 2023 Preseason Third-Team All-AAC by Athlon Sports

2022: Started eight of 13 games … Logged 539 total snaps (494 defense, 45 special teams) earning third varsity letter … Booked 40 tackles (25 solo) ranking 10th on the team … Registered a team-high 10 TFLs (-27 yards) with 2.5 sacks (-15 yards) … Credited with one pass breakup and four quarterback hurries (tied for second) … Tallied career-high eight tackles (six solo) against South Florida … Booked at least one stop in 11 of 13 contests (multiple nine times) … Credited with TFLs against Navy (1.0/-4 yards), South Florida (1.0/-3 yards), Tulane (2.5/-5 yards), Memphis (0.5/-1 yard), Cincinnati (1.0/-10 yards), Houston (2.0/-8 yards), Coastal Carolina (2.0/-6 yards) … Tallied three of four QBHs against Tulane (other vs. UCF) … Lone pass breakup came against Old Dominion … Registered sacks against South Florida (1.0/-3 yards), Tulane (0.5/-2 yards), Cincinnati (1.0/-10 yards).

2021: Played in 11 of 12 games in his third year with the program … Tallied 17 tackles (10 solo) with 1.5 TFLs (-1 yard) … Registered at least one tackle in five games (all multiple) … Tied career-high with six stops at Houston (other was against Navy ’20) … Booked first tackles of the season against Tulane (both solo on run plays) … Lone hit behind the line of scrimmage was at Houston (-1 yard) … Credited with a quarterback hurry in the season finale against Cincinnati.

2020: Appeared in seven contests making one start during the pandemic-shortened season … Registered first collegiate start against Navy booking a career-best six stops (three solo) … Credited with first career sack (-2 yards) in the first quarter against Tulane … Tallied TFLs against Navy (-1 yard) and Tulane (-2 yards) … Made collegiate debut against UCF booking two stops (both assisted) ... Recorded at least one tackle in six of seven career games (multiple four times) ... Ten of 13 career stops have come on rushing plays.

2019: Spent true freshman campaign as a redshirt, competing as a scout team performer on ECU’s developmental roster … Did not experience game-day action but was promoted to the travel (dress-out) roster during season.

High School: A three-year letterman and two-way (running back, linebacker) standout for head coach Kennedy Tinsley at Southeast Guilford High School … Helped turn around a Falcons’ program that compiled a three-year record of 29-10 (14-3 conference), which included a 14-2 ledger, a Mid-Piedmont 3-A Conference title and a NCHSAA Class 3-AA Championship Game appearance (defeated Cape Fear, Eastern Guilford, Dudley and Cleveland before falling to Weddington) in 2018 … Falcons closed out regular season play ranked No. 2 in the HSXtra.com poll … Rushed for 1,116 yards on 209 carries with 17 ground scores during prep career (38 games) … Additionally, caught 52 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns … Amassed 1,693 all-purpose yards … Defensively, booked 35 tackles (29 solo) with a pair of sacks, four interceptions and two touchdowns … Played junior varsity as a freshman before earning promotion to varsity squad in 2016 … Opened high school career rushing for 628 yards (second on the team) on 120 carries (5.2 ypr) with seven touchdowns as a sophomore … Also hauled in seven passes for 126 yards and one score … As a junior, rushed for 220 yards on 31 attempts with two touchdowns, while catching a career-best 30 passes for 228 yards and three TDs despite experiencing more action on defense (35 stops, 2.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and an interception) … Closed out career with 268 yards on the ground (58 carries) and eight touchdowns as a senior … Added 15 receptions for 164 yards at receiver and three interceptions (75 return yards) from the linebacking position … Opened career as a running back at the middle school level … A three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com … Committed to ECU on June 3, 2018 … Also received offers from Air Force, Army, Navy and Charlotte.

Personal: Son of Jennifer and Cameron Stephens … Father works for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department … Earned undergraduate degree from East Carolina in business management (spring 2023).