Sept. 21, 2005

When fans look at the Missouri Tigers depth chart for the 2005 season, they will see Earl Stephens starting on the defensive line. Stephens has worked very hard for that honor, putting in many hours in the weight room and on the practice field and even switching positions from tight end to nose tackle during his four year career as a Tiger. Although Stephens has climbed to the top of the depth chart, he is not finished. His main goal for this season is to continue the improvement of last year's second-ranked defense in the Big 12 in total yards. Stephens' hard work on the football field and in the classroom will be rewarded this season with the honor of starting for the Mizzou defense and with the degree he is scheduled to receive in May 2006.

When Stephens arrived at the University of Missouri from Ferndale, Mich., for his first practice, he was focused and ready to play. He concentrated on getting stronger and learned how to be a better tight end. The freshman-only practices at the very beginning of his career went well. But the challenging part came when he started practicing with the upperclassmen, he was understandably shocked by their size.

"When the upperclassmen came in, Sean Doyle and David Monroe... that is when it got a little nerve-racking," Stephens said.

That is when Stephens fully realized he was just a freshman and had a lot of work ahead of him.

Over the next few years, Stephens did not see too much playing time. He was not worried about his playing time during this point of his career because he knew he needed to improve. While he wanted to be on the field, he realized he was not quite ready yet.

"Obviously I wasn't ready," Stephens said. "Sometimes I thought I was, I played like I was ready, and some times I didn't. I was inconsistent."

Further complicating the improvement was the fact that during spring practice, his redshirt sophomore year, he switched from tight end to defensive line.

In high school, Stephens played both at tight end and on the defensive line, but he entered Mizzou as a tight end. He practiced at tight end until the end of the 2002 campaign when the coaches asked him if he wanted to switch to the defense. Stephens lists his increase in size as the most important reason he switched

"I just lifted a lot and put on a little weight," Stephens said.

When asked which position he enjoys playing better, he says he still is a tight end at heart, but he likes hitting people now.

Finally getting the chance to start for the Tigers drives Stephens to make the defense better than it was in 2004.

"My goal is for constant improvement, no let down," Stephens said.

He knows it is going to be tough challenge.

"When Attyah (Ellison) and C. J. (Mosley) were here, they did great, they were good players, but me and Lorenzo (Williams), we want to bring it up a step higher," Stephens said.

Besides the hard work Stephens puts in trying to improve the Tigers defense, he is also working hard to earn a degree in Restaurant and Hotel Management at Mizzou. At first, Stephens explains, it was tough to balance school and football but he learned how to best manage his time.

"It was tough in the beginning," Stephens said. "Even during high school, as an athlete you've got to be able to manage between your practice time and your homework. Now, I feel like I've been doing it all my life."

Because of the hours of time and energy Stephens put on the field, he can see the work pay off on game day. Among his favorite things about being a Tiger are the fans that fill Memorial Stadium. One of Stephens' favorite memories of his career occurred in 2003 when the Tigers beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers at home.

"When you're winning, a lot of things open up for you; like Nebraska in 2003 and those games back then," Stephens said. "That was great."

Another fun part of starting on a Division I football team is appearing in video games. In EA Sports' NCAA Football 2006, Stephens is in the game and plays a lot.

"I'm on there all the time." Stephens said, "It is a little weird because when you are young, you have to create yourself."

But now, he is already programmed in the game. While playing the video game, one can highlight a player and control his actions. While many young adults play as Stephens' character, he actually plays as himself. His only complaint is his size on the game,

"It lists me as 6-4, 290, and I'm about 300."

Stephens received a full scholarship to play football for the Missouri Tigers, and he attributed this accomplishment to all of the hard work he put in before even setting foot in Missouri.

"The hard work I put in during high school, it paid off, and I'm grateful for that," Stephens said

-Written by David Smith, MU Media Relations Student Assistant