In which BracketCat counts down the 62nd day until the 2023 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State wide receiver Justin Stephens.
#82 Justin Stephens
True Junior | 6-2 | 198 lbs. | Wichita, Kansas
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Previous College: Butler Community College
- Projection: Scout Team
- Status: Walk-On
Justin Stephens (b. Sept. 23, 2004) is a junior college transfer majoring in management.
He popped up somewhat unexpectedly on the summer roster update, so I figured I’d play catchup in the midst of a stretch of three straight days with no offensive linemen to profile.
So let me first extend my congratulations to Mr. Stephens on making the 105-man roster when so many other walk-ons did not, including offensive linemen I’d normally be profiling.
He played under head coach Brice Vignery at Butler Community College, seeing action in 18 games over two seasons and recording 41 receptions for 547 yards and two touchdowns.
Stephens hauled in 23 catches for 354 yards and both scores as a freshman for the Grizzlies in 2023 as he earned honorable mention all-conference accolades. His best game was that season against Hutchinson when he had 83 yards with a touchdown. (Highlights here!)
Stephens also tallied a career-high six receptions as a sophomore against Iowa Central.
He prepped under head coach Gary Guzman at Maize High School, where he was a two-time all-state honoree — including first-team honors as a senior — by The Wichita Eagle.
Stephens finished his high school career with 96 receptions for 1,553 yards and 18 touchdowns, in addition to returning 16 punts for 249 yards and two touchdowns.
He also lettered in basketball and baseball for the Eagles, and now will be reuniting with his high school quarterback and friend, Avery Johnson, at K-State after receiving only limited recruiting interest from the Wildcats and North Dakota State out of high school.
Stephens’ brother, Jake, pitched baseball at both Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma.