Stephens is one of a Kind

It’s not everyday that you come across a defensive tackle who is a great student, a state championship contending wrestler, a multiple offer football player and an accomplished singer to boot. Well we never have met anyone like that until we ran into Terrence Stephens.

Germantown (Md.) Quince Orchard defensive tackle Terrence Stephens really is a jack of all trades. He carries a 3.8 GPA in the classroom. He finished fifth at the Maryland State Wrestling Championships last year and is 25-0 this year. He has already received four football scholarship offers and he recently tried out for “American Idol”.

Stephens began singing early in life and has had a passion for ever since. He has always wanted to try out for the hit TV show “American Idol”, so once he heard that they would be having tryouts in Philadelphia he decided to test his luck.

“My mom told me that I woke up one morning and started singing when I was about six or seven years old,” Stephens said. “I was in the elementary chorus, but I never took any classes. I did sing in the concert choir in high school.

“I decided when the tryouts were in Philadelphia that I had to tryout” he said. “I just had to do it. I never met any of the judges though. What you see on TV isn’t necessarily what you see at a tryout.”

As one may expect, people in the Quince Orchard school system have grown fond of his vocal talents.

“I sing for the secretaries and of course they told the people in the guidance office so now I have to sing for them,” Stephens laughed. “They put me on the school website. I sang The Temptations “Ain’t too proud to beg”.

“I like Motown stuff, I’ll listen to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder,” he said. “I listen to new R&B as well like Usher and NE-YO, but I really listen to just about everything.”

Hearing a soft voice on a 6-foot-2, 280-pound, defensive tackle may be a little odd, but Stephens warns don’t let the musical talent and his charismatic charm fool you.

“People often mistake kindness for weakness,” Stephens said. “That is not a wise thing to do.”

The talented Maryland prospect earned First-Team Washington-Post All-Met honors as a junior. He recorded 10.5 sacks, 56 tackles and two interceptions. His talents on the gridiron are starting to pay off in the form of scholarship offers. Stephens has been offered by N.C. State, Nebraska, Maryland and Stanford.

“They all came like right after another,” Stephens explained. “Nebraska was the first. I really wasn’t expecting it at all. Coach Dave (Mencarini) called me out of class and he had a big smile on his face and he told me Nebraska was offering.

“I didn’t think Maryland would offer so early,” he said. “Coach Sollazo told my coach that they were offering all three of us me, Travis (Hawkins) and Jason (Ankrah). I’m also friends with Zach (Kerr).

“I am very interested in Stanford,” Stephens stated. “They have great academics, just as good as Ivy League schools. They also have very good athletics and I am leaving a winning team, so I’d like to keep on winning. They have the whole package at Stanford.”

Stephens is in no rush to make a decision and he is open, but currently likes Stanford, Nebraska, Maryland, Connecticut, Boston College, Wake Forest, Rutgers and Harvard. He has also received interest from West Virginia, Georgia and Penn State.

“It is a long process and it will take a lot of thought,” Stephens explained. “I’ll have to weigh the pros and cons about each school. It will be the hardest decision of my life, but one that has to be made.”

One person who will play a major role in Stephens decision will be his mom Tracey Stephens, a single mom for 17-years who works from home.

“I love my mom more than anything and yes, I admit I am a momma’s boy,” laughed Stephens. “It would be very hard to leave her, but I like experiencing new things. It would be very tough, but if it’s what I need to do then I’ll have to do what I need to do for me.”

Stephens has been unable to attend any junior day events due to a hectic wrestling schedule. After a fifth place finish at the Maryland State Championships as a sophomore, Stephens is out for gold this year. He currently holds a record of (25-0). He also feels that his wrestling background gives him a distinct advantage in football.

“It helps you with leverage, footwork, speed and technique,” Stephens said. “Leverage is the biggest. It teaches you how to use your weight against them and their weight against themselves.”

We won’t sell Stephens short in his quest for gold, because as he has already proved there is not much he can’t do.