NJ TE David Stevens ready to sign LOI

Tight end was another position of need for the SU staff. David Stevens had other appealing options with a number of other offers. But in the end, there was no place that felt as welcoming as the school he’ll sign with Wednesday afternoon: Syracuse University.

“I got along great with all of the players and coaches. I felt at home when I was there,” said Stevens, a 6-4, 220-pound tight end from Millburn, N.J., four hours away from SU. Head coach Greg Robinson “is great. When I’m up there I’ll see him every day and know that I can talk to him about anything.”

Stevens is a pass-catching tight end who runs precise routes and has good hands. As a junior, Stevens caught 28 passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns from his tight end position. He also added 33 tackles and four sacks at defensive end. For his efforts, he was named first-team All-County, All-Conference and All-Area.

“I can do some quick moves on my routes and I catch the ball. That’s a plus,” he said.

The only question for him right now, though, is whether he’ll have the bulk to dive headlong into Big East football. Will he play next year?

“It depends on how big I get and how quickly I learn the playbook, and then it’s anyone’s game,” said Stevens, who has run a 4.68-second 40-yard dash. “That would be a plus. But if they redshirt me I wouldn’t mind having a year.”

Last reported during his season, Stevens did a max bench press of 280 pounds, a max squat of 450, a max hang clean of 245 and a max dead lift of 505 pounds. Stevens has added five pounds of muscle since the end of football season. He said the SU staff would like to see him in the 235 to 240 range.

We also asked the understated Stevens about how excited he was for signing day, and what his plans were.

“It’s pretty big,” he said of solidifying his future. “I’ll sign at the school and take some pictures, and then go out to dinner with my family.”

UConn and Purdue tried to continue pursuing him after he verbally committed to the Orange, but they had no chance.

“When I committed, I was done. I knew where I was going to be,” he said.