Steve Stephens is one of the top safeties in the 2018 recruiting class and, with that in mind, he is generating a great deal of interest from programs across the country. There is a trend emerging with regard to five programs that greatly interest the four-star defensive back from California and that is that four of them are located in the western part of the United States.
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In speaking with Adam Gorney of Rivals, Stephens shed some light on his latest school of interest in the UCLA Bruins, who recently offered him a scholarship:
"The coach just watched my film and he said he loved it and he said I have to be a part of his team. We've been talking every other day. I'm definitely interested. It's on the West Coast, close to home, can't be mad at that."
In addition to UCLA, Stephens is reportedly interested in USC, Cal and Oregon, with the fifth program arriving in the form of the Oklahoma Sooners. It isn't as if Norman is just down the street from Stephens' home in Edison (Calif.), but he indicates as part of the same interview that Bob Stoops and company are "a big school" and that he "definitely has interest" in the Sooners.
Stephens ranks as the No. 12 safety and as the No. 120 player overall in the 247Sports composite and it will be interesting to see which programs grab the upper hand as his recruiting process continues.
