Arkansas redshirt senior defensive back Bryce Stephens will forgo his remaining college eligibility, a source confirmed with HawgBeat.
The Oklahoma City native signed with Arkansas in the 2021 cycle as a three-star wide receiver and moved over to defensive back last spring. In his career, Stephens appeared in 30 games for the Hogs and hauled in 12 passes for 114 yards with a touchdown, plus returned 19 punts for 202 yards and a score. He played in 10 games last fall but did not record any statistics.
Stephens' departure puts the current scholarship count at 85.
Bio
2024 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Served as punt returner during a Liberty Bowl victory over Texas Tech, tallying one return for no yards (Dec. 27) … Saw action on special teams during a win over Louisiana Tech (No. 23) … Played on special teams in a loss to Teas (Nov. 16) … Saw action on special teams vs. Ole Miss (Nov. 2) … Played in loss vs. LSU (Oct. 19) … Registered special teams action in a win over No. 4 Tennessee (Oct. 5) … Saw action on special teams vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 28) …Played in a win over UAB (Sept. 14) … Appeared on special teams at Oklahoma State (Sept. 7) … Saw action in season-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Aug. 29).
2023 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in three games, seeing time on special teams and offense, but did not record any stats.
2022 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman, seeing action with the offense and on special teams … Posted career-bests with nine receptions, 109 yards and his first career touchdown … Returned 15 punts for 149 yards (9.93 avg) and a touchdown as the team’s primary punt returner … Made a game-turning play with an 82-yard punt return to put Arkansas in the lead in the fourth quarter of win vs. Missouri State (Sept. 17), to-taling 105 punt return yards on three returns – the eighth-most in a single game by a Razorback and the 10th-most by a team in a single game … Hauled in two passes, including a career-long 54-yard bomb, for 59 yards and his first career touchdown at Mississippi State (Oct. 8) … Snagged a pair of passes for 11 yards in win at Auburn (Oct. 29) … Two receptions for 12 yards vs. Liberty (Nov. 5) … Logged his first rushing attempt as a Razorback, gaining 21 yards on a reverse to go with one catch for 17 yards in AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory over Kansas (Dec. 28).
2021 (FRESHMAN): Appeared in four games and redshirted … According to Pro Football Focus, played in 44 snaps with 34 on offense and 10 on special teams … Hauled in first collegiate reception and finished the game with three catches for five yards in Outback Bowl win over Penn State (Jan. 1).
HIGH SCHOOL: Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Ranked the No. 86 wide receiver in his class by Rivals … Rated the No. 8 player in Oklahoma by Rivals … Played wide receiver for head coach Jeff Horrocks at John Marshall High School … As a senior, played in eight games, making 32 catches for 686 yards (21.4 ypc) and nine touchdowns … His junior year, made 21 grabs for 416 yards (19.8 ypc) and six touchdowns in nine games … Also ran 11 times for 224 yards (20.4 ypc) and three touchdowns … Hauled in 43 receptions for 1,004 yards (23.3 ypc) and 15 touchdowns in 11 games as a sophomore … Also competed in track and field in 100m and 200m events … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Oklahoma State, TCU, Tulsa, Iowa State, Nebraska and others.
PERSONAL: Born June 28, 2002.
