Three Bob Jones football players sign late
Le’Chauz Langford, Matt Stephenson, Coach Kevin Rose, and Christian Phillips (Record Photo/ Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- The wait was worth it. A month after National Signing Day three Bob Jones football players made it official as they signed to play at the next level.
La’Chauz Langford signed with Shorter College (Rome, Ga.), Christian Phillips signed with Bethel University, and Matt Stephenson revealed his college choice and will be a preferred walkon at Middle Tennessee State (Murfreesboro, Tenn.).
Langford played two years at Bob Jones after transferring from Sparkman. He will play defensive line in college. Phillips’ size (6-foot-3) and hands helped him land an offer from NAIA Bethel University of McKenzie, Tennessee.
“Le’Chauz is a smart kid and versatile player who played offense and defense for us. Phillips has all the tools and great potential to keep getting better,” Bob Jones head football coach Kevin Rose said.
Stephenson was Bob Jones kicker for two years and also punted last year. One highlight of his season was a 42-yard field goal against Huntsville.
He thanked his snapper Derek Marion and his holder Collins Hess.
He could have signed on NSD but Austin Peay asked him to hold off. MTSU later got interested and Stephenson jumped at the chance to play FBS (division 1) football.
“I felt down on my luck on signing day, I wanted to be up there with the other guys,” Stephenson said. “But it all worked out with the school I wanted so I don’t regret any decisions I made.
I had a full ride to Alabama A&M and almost a full ride to Austin Peay but Middle Tennessee came on late and as soon as they offered I knew it was where I wanted to go. Their schedule includes Missouri this year and Vandy all four years. I’m happy I ended up there, its close to home my parents can come to the games. They waived out-of-state tuition and my ACT was high enough that it got me almost a full ride.”
Stephenson will major in concrete engineering in the Building Science Dept.
“He got better each week,” Rose said of Stephenson. “He was like 80% on touchbacks and was good on pooch kicks. He did a great job of punting the opponent inside the 10-yard line and was automatic on extra points. He’s a great fit for MTSU.”
