LB Stevens lives for success on the gridiron

Graeme Stevens has made football his life. In fact, he describes football and life as “one and the same.”

Stevens has been playing the game for six years, and spent time with the Lockerby Mustangs of the Joe McDonald Youth Football League (JMYFL), the Sudbury Gladiators of the Ontario Football Conference (OFC), and the Lo-Ellen Knights of the Sudbury District Secondary Schools Athletic Association (SDSSAA). Additionally, he has suited up for Team West at the CFCFPC.

Including the playoffs, the 5’11, 210-pound linebacker recorded a stellar 58.5 tackles during the 2016 OFC season, as well as four QB sacks. Stevens was also a key contributor to the Gladiators special teams coverage in 2016.

He says he relishes playing the linebacker position, stating, “I love my position because I love reacting to what the offence is showing me and hunting down the ball carrier.”

Stevens is proud to say he models his game after former Arizona Cardinals safety and US Armed Forces veteran, the late Pat Tillman.

“How could you not want to model your own game off a guy like Pat Tillman?,” asked the Sudbury native. “He strived to be the best football player and person he could possibly be and carried himself with class in all walks of life.”

Stevens says he is very thankful for the time coaches have taken to get to know him as a player and as a person during the recruitment process.

“All the coaches I’ve been in contact with have been extremely informative and I’m extremely grateful for them taking the time to talk to me,” he said.

Stevens’ considers his top four U Sports destinations to be Mount Allison, Queen’s, Guelph, and St. FX, but has no particular preference as of yet.

“I’m drawn to the east coast teams because I see them as teams with underdog mentalities due to their size, and being from northern Ontario I really relate to that underdog mentality,” he said. “I’m drawn to Queen’s and Guelph because both are fantastic schools that are consistently competing for the Yates Cup and they’re closer to home. He added that, wherever he ends up, “I want to make sure I go to a school with extremely strong academics.”

The Grade 12 student at Lo-Ellen referred to playing at the next level as “a massive step,” but says he’s prepared to take it thanks to his high school coach, Kevin Ellsworth.

“He taught me how to play football with class and intensity and I definitely wouldn’t be the same player without his guidance,” Stevens said of Ellsworth. He also gives a lot of credit to his father, saying, “My dad is also a big influence on me because he`s supported me from day one and taught me to aim high in life and football.”

To prepare for the 2017 summer season with the Gladiators, Stevens is continuing to weight lift, which he does at an Olympic level. In fact, he competed at the 2016 Ontario Summer Games, where he placed 4h in all of Ontario.

Photo Credits: Graeme Stevens & SaultSports.com

Graeme Stevens
LB
5’11, 210lbs

Teams: Sudbury Gladiators, Lo-Ellen Knights
Commitment: None
Official Visits: Mount Allison, St. FX, (complete) Queens (upcoming)
Consideration: Mount Allison, Queen’s, Guelph, St. FX (no order)
Class: 2017

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