| Bruce Stephens | |
| Number: | 87 |
| Position: | Wide receiver |
| Birth Date: | 31 October 1956 |
| Birth Place: | Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 9 |
| Weight Lbs: | 170 |
| High School: | Central (Phenix City, Alabama) |
| College: | Columbia |
| Undraftedyear: | 1978 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Pfr: | StepBr20 |
Bruce Anthony Stephens (born October 31, 1956) is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Columbia University.[1] [2]
Born in Columbus, Georgia, Stephens attended Central High School of Clay County in Lineville, Alabama.[1] In addition to playing football, he was also a sprinter, running a 9.8 100-meter dash.[3] Although recruited to play college football for teams such as the Georgia Bulldogs, Army Black Knights and Princeton Tigers, Stephens walked-on with the Columbia Lions and made the freshman team in 1974.[3] He then became a starting running back for the varsity team in 1975 and was a top player at the school through 1977.[3] [4] A member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Stephens was an honor society student at Columbia and was named the football team's most valuable player as a senior in 1977, graduating in 1978 with a degree in economics.[5]
Stephens went unselected in the 1978 NFL draft, but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets to play wide receiver.[6] He made the team out of training camp as a return specialist.[7] He appeared in six games and had three kickoff returns for 42 yards with a long of 16, although in one game he had a 68-yard return that was called back by penalty.[1] [8] He was placed on injured reserve in October, ending his season.[9] He was the team's returner in preseason in 1979 but was released after fumbling a kickoff.[10] [11]