It’s early, but Berkeley Prep has jumped out to a strong start in the 2021 season. In week one, they came away with a 35-21 win against a strong Clearwater Central Catholic. Then in week two, the Buccaneers beat Calvary Christian 28-26. They hope to keep the momentum going this Friday as they make a twenty-minute trip south to Robinson High School.
One player who has been integral to the Bucs’ early success is defensive lineman Brice Stevenson. Throughout the first two games, the 6’2” 270 pound junior has caused issues for opposing offenses. Against CCC, Stevenson recorded 7 solo tackles, 3 assists, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Calvary Christian seemed to make him a focal point of their blocking scheme in week two. However, he still earned 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack.
A defensive lineman’s productivity should not always be measured by statistics though. When coaches know they have a good defensive lineman, we can count on them to draw double teams and occupy blockers. This opens up opportunities for the rest of the defense and benefits the greater good.
So even though most defensive linemen don’t want to hear it, some of their best games won’t stand out in the box score or get their name in the paper. I doubt Stevenson is one of those guys that cares about stats though. He does his job thoroughly, and plays inspired football every snap. He really shows flashes on film as a junior. He has good size for a junior, and his quickness, hands, and power give him versatility when it comes to alignment.
Whether he is in a zero or a three-technique, his explosion at the snap of the football allows him to get to the heels of the offensive line and cause disruption. He runs the fence very well and has excellent screen recognition. These skills also show great awareness and football IQ. He plays mean and finishes tackles. He is definitely a young man to keep an eye on this season. If he continues to build on his early film, he will definitely start drawing some interest and earning some junior day invitations.