Interview: 3-Star 2021 LB Trevion Stevenson Talks Football and Signing with North Carolina
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Beyond the Old Dominion, football fans and college coaches were excited to see Class of 2021 outside linebacker/end Trevion Stevenson in action during the 2020 season. Stevenson showed out as a junior compiling 85 stops with 15 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss while forcing four fumbles and recovering two. The added weight on the Phoebus High School standout, now coming in at 6-5, 230, piqued interest along the college ranks with 40 scholarship offers extended. During the early signing period, the three-star Virginia standout signed with the North Carolina Tar Heels turning his focus to a senior season set to kickoff in March, but could still be in jeopardy.
For an update on his workouts in preparation for a potential season and insight on how North Carolina became his ideal fit, Stevenson stopped by the RNG Lab for another one-on-one.
Interview
Trevion, congratulations on signing with North Carolina during the early signing period.
Thank you.
You had 40 reported offers out there, how did you narrow down all of those schools to a manageable list before committing to North Carolina?
How I narrowed it down, I was talking with my family. My process with recruiting was different than others. It took me a minute. My process was finding out which school fit me the best. I got the UNC offer kind of late, but not too late in the process. UNC was a dream school for me as a kid. They have a history of great players, like Ronald Curry and others. I have always wanted to go there, and they are close to home. My whole family can come see me play.
The other thing, it felt like home there. When we went on a visit there with my 7v7 team, I loved the school and everything about it. Coach Mack Brown (head coach) is an awesome coach. All the coaches treat me like their son, like family. Their coaches played no games with me and recruited me hard. I appreciate them. They wanted to fill me out early in the process, they wanted to make sure I was the person they wanted and was in tune with the school. They don’t throw out offers to just anyone to look cool.
What was the tipping point that put the Tar Heels as your top choice?
The coaching staff, campus, and their business program; they have a great business program there. UNC as a school that is up there with Harvard and UVA (Virginia) with great academics. UNC is a great route for me as a student-athlete.
As that do-everything kind of linebacker, how do they see you fitting into their defensive scheme?
We run a 3-4, I will be at outside linebacker. That role is a nickelback type, a hybrid outside linebacker, end and safety. Like Isiah Simmons (Arizona Cardinals). I fit the scheme really well.
Tell me about the commitment video.
The fans loved that. My uncle blessed me with a lot of UNC stuff, it was awesome.
Over the extended offseason in Virginia, what have you been working on with your skillset as a linebacker?
I’ve been working on my footwork, drops into coverage, my rushing, and covering receivers. I have been covering a lot of receivers lately. This offseason I have been working on the field with big players working on things I might have to do during the season. You can move me to corner, safety, end – a lot of different positions on defense now.
What have you been doing to add more strength to your abilities?
I have been hitting the weight room like crazy since last time we talked.
Have you maxed out lately?
Yes, my bench max is 350, my squat is 405, and my power clean is 260. Hang clean is always lower, that is around 245.
What about speed and agility, what have you been doing to improve that part of your athleticism?
I have been working on my acceleration, explosiveness off the ball, and running period.
Did you get to post a 40-yard dash this offseason?
The last time I ran a 40, I ran a low 4.6.
What is the practice schedule for the Phantoms now and/or coming up?
I’m not sure if we will have a season. I plan on leaving when I finish school, if that is in May or June. When I finish, I will enroll. We are not practicing right now.
What is the expected kickoff to the 2020 season in Virginia?
March.
Trevion, again, congratulations on signing with North Carolina. I am very excited to track your progress at the next level. Keep up the hard work this offseason.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Photo credit: Stevenson family; Trevion Stevenson