Oregon Ducks safety Steve Stephens IV expecting to play in spring game

EUGENE — Almost six months since his 2021 season ended, Steve Stephens IV is anticipating to see the sphere once more at Autzen Stadium

The Oregon Geese security injured his proper hamstring through the win over Colorado on Oct. 30 and missed the rest of the season, ending the 12 months with 33 tackles, with two for loss, and a move breakup.

Stephens was restricted to start spring apply however has elevated his degree of participation and took reps with the second-team protection on Tuesday. He expects to play throughout Saturday’s spring sport (1 p.m., Pac-12 Community).

“Mushy tissue damage, we wished to take our time with it,” Stephens mentioned. “For probably the most half I’m again, you see I’m on the market flying round. … You’ll see me within the spring sport for certain.”

Stephens continues to be getting therapy for the leg damage and has elevated his power and mobility. The teaching employees has constructed up his workload from particular person drills to now a gentle quantity of snaps with the secondary and full protection.

“Firstly of spring he was very, very restricted through the first few practices,” safeties coach Matt Powledge mentioned. “We’ve come out of spring break and it was ‘hey, we’re going to provide Steve (particular person drills) in the present day.’ He did an excellent job by way of indy, feels good, now we’re going to provide him one other interval. We’ve actually monitored his reps and constructed him up every day. (Final Thursday), he in all probability obtained round 30 reps at apply in actually essential conditions of apply in game-like conditions. For him, he’s positively getting stronger and getting more healthy and appears quicker on the sphere.”

Getting into his fifth-year junior season, Stephens is likely one of the oldest gamers on the crew. He’s studying a fourth protection and taking part in for a fourth defensive coordinator and third place coach.

Having gone by way of the prior adjustments from the defenses of Jim Leavitt, Andy Avalos and Tim DeRuyter, the Stephens has refined his studying course of to select up the scheme Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi are putting in at Oregon.

“Plenty of defenses are actual comparable, having completely different terminology,” Stephens mentioned. “Coming from being a freshman and so far you discover ways to examine and discover ways to watch movie and constructing these good habits. It will get simpler and simpler as time goes on and also you get smarter.”

Stephens was primarily UO’s boundary security final season however is studying each deep security spots this season as Lanning emphasizes place versatility.

Means to cowl, blitz and make performs on the ball are desired throughout the protection, however data and communication within the defensive backfield are the traits that prime Lanning’s checklist.

“We wish to be nice communicators,” Lanning mentioned. “They’ve to have the ability to perceive our system and get us in the correct checks and calls and forestall explosive performs.”