Division II Standout Shon Stephens Taking Visit With UCLA Football

The Bruins join Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Indiana and others as the Power Five schools reportedly in the race for the veteran cornerback.

An under-the-radar transfer prospect appears to have the Bruins high up on his list.

West Liberty University cornerback Shon Stephens entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer on Dec. 6 and began the rack up Power Five and Division I offers not long after. Although Stephens has yet to publicly reveal an offer from UCLA football, Virginia Tech blog The Tech Lunch Pail has reported that the 6-foot Division II All-American is headed to Westwood for an official visit on April 1.

The Hokies will host Stephens for a visit a week later on April 8, while Indiana, Rutgers and Troy are also reportedly heavily involved in his recruitment. Stephens has announced additional offers from Central Michigan, Sacred Heart, Albany, Tarleton and Incarnate Word.

Stephens, who is originally from Bakersfield, attended Bakersfield College for junior college from 2017 to 2019. He transferred to Missouri Southern State in 2020, but entered the transfer portal again and took the season off after his mother suffered a heart attack.

In August 2021, Stephens announced his walk-on commitment to Penn State, but he never suited up for the Nittany Lions due to academic progress eligibility issues. Stephens elected instead to go to West Liberty in West Virginia, and he still has one year of eligibility remaining due to all the time off.

During the 2022 season at West Liberty, Stephens tallied a Division II-high eight interceptions while also collecting 37 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 14 pass deflections. Stephens was also a kick returner, averaging 21.7 yards on his 30 returns.

Stephens told The Tech Lunch Pail that he plans on making a decision on his commitment in May. However, the All-MEC selection added that depending on how upcoming visits go, a decision could arrive sooner.

UCLA has already received one commitment from a non-Division I player for the class of 2023. Cabrillo College safety Zeke Thomas committed to the Bruins on March 11 in favor of Ottawa University, Missouri Valley College, South Dakota School of Mines and Lincoln University.

The secondary has been an area of weakness for blue and gold throughout the Chip Kelly era in Westwood. Kelly brought in cornerbacks coach Kodi Whitfield from Sacramento State to split secondary responsibilities with Brian Norwood, who shifted to primarily focus on safeties.

Along with new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn – who was a defensive backs coach in the NFL – Stephens could be getting recruited by a host of new Bruin coaches.

UCLA is the only California school to publicly be in the hunt for Stephens’ commitment and could have a slight edge with the veteran player’s roots in the region.

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