Stephfon Green
Encyclopedia
Stephfon P. Green is an American football
running back
, currently playing college football
for Penn State
University.
In his junior year, Green appeared in nine games and rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a kick returner, he returned kickoffs for two touchdowns and added two interceptions on defense.
He was recruited by Michigan State
, Rutgers
and Syracuse
, but committed to attend Penn State in July 2006. He was rated as a 3 star prospect, and the 38th ranked cornerback in the country.
, but soon after arriving, coaches determined that his speed was better suited for the tailback position. He has been clocked at 4.25 seconds in the 40 yard dash
.
Green redshirted his freshman season at Penn State and practiced mostly with the scout team on offense as the Lions had Austin Scott
, Rodney Kinlaw
and Evan Royster
at tailback.
Green appeared in all 13 games for the Nittany Lions in 2008, including the Rose Bowl against Southern California. He has shown big play ability, having a rush or reception of at least 10 yards in 11 of the 13 games. In the first game of his college career, he scored two touchdowns in a 66–10 blowout win against Coastal Carolina
. His first 100+ yard rushing game came against Temple
where he ran for 132 yards on 9 carries, including a 69 yard touchdown. Against Michigan
, he turned a screen pass into a career long 80 yard touchdown reception, helping Penn State defeat the Wolverines for the first time since 1996.
Green was one of the bright spots for the Nittany Lion offense in the 2009 Rose Bowl
. He racked up 124 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches against a stingy USC defense. However, in the second quarter, he fumbled the ball just before halftime that led to a touchdown pass by Mark Sanchez
. He has used the fumble as motivation to improve and takes blame for the Rose Bowl loss, saying "We were gaining momentum, and I just let the momentum slip away. That was a letdown to my team, and I don’t ever want to have my teammates look at me as a letdown."
In the second half of the Rose Bowl, he suffered a dislocated ankle. The injury required surgery which he had in January 2009 and was out of action for over 3 months, missing all of spring practice and the Blue-White game.
. He scored his first touchdown of the season against Temple in week 3. Two weeks later against Illinois, he ran for a season high 120 yards on 13 carries, including a 52 yard touchdown run early in the 2nd quarter. He added his third touchdown of the season the following week in a 52–3 rout of Eastern Illinois.
In week 7 against Minnesota, he suffered another injury to his right ankle. He had previously broke his right ankle during his senior season in high school, causing him to miss the rest of the season. He also dislocated the same ankle during the 2009 Rose Bowl, which resulted in him missing all of spring football for the Nittany Lions.
After missing games against Michigan and Northwestern, Green returned for the Ohio State game, but was limited to just two carries and one reception as the Nittany Lions were soundly defeated by the Buckeyes 24–7. In the Capital One Bowl
against LSU
on New Year's Day, Green rushed seven times for 35 yards as Penn State won 19–17.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, currently playing college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
University.
Early years
Green attended John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx where he was coached by Alex Vega. He played tailback and safety and was named as a first team All-Conference selection. During his senior season, he appeared in only the first 5 games, but took advantage of his opportunities as he rushed for 740 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 50 carries, averaging 14.8 yards per carry. On defense, he recorded 21 tackles and two interceptions. In a game against Lincoln High School (Brooklyn), he had 330 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns on only 6 carries for an incredible 55 yard average per carry and a long of 86 yards. Two games later he had a 95 yard run. His senior season was cut short the following week against South Shore when he broke his right ankle.In his junior year, Green appeared in nine games and rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a kick returner, he returned kickoffs for two touchdowns and added two interceptions on defense.
He was recruited by Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and Syracuse
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, but committed to attend Penn State in July 2006. He was rated as a 3 star prospect, and the 38th ranked cornerback in the country.
College career
Green is majoring in crime, law and justice. He has said, “I always tell everybody, and they get surprised when I say that, but football is my Plan B. I’m here on a scholarship, but at the same time, I’m getting a free education, so I’m going to take advantage of that.”2007 season
Stephfon Green was recruited by Penn State as a defensive backDefensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, but soon after arriving, coaches determined that his speed was better suited for the tailback position. He has been clocked at 4.25 seconds in the 40 yard dash
40 yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football...
.
Green redshirted his freshman season at Penn State and practiced mostly with the scout team on offense as the Lions had Austin Scott
Austin Scott
Austin Scott was the tenth President of Rutgers College , serving from 1891 to 1906.-Biography:Scott was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Jeremiah Austin Scott and Sarah Remey...
, Rodney Kinlaw
Rodney Kinlaw
Rodney Eddrick Kinlaw is a professional American Football running back. He currently plays for the Mönchengladbach Mavericks of the German Football League. He has also played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League...
and Evan Royster
Evan Royster
Evan Mathias Royster is an American football running back for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football for Penn State. Royster was a three year starter and is the all-time leading rusher for the Nittany Lions...
at tailback.
2008 season
Stephfon had a strong preseason for the Nittany Lions. He led the team in rushing in the annual Blue-White spring game, rushing 12 times for 87 yards. In the second play from scrimmage he ran 57 yards for a touchdown.Green appeared in all 13 games for the Nittany Lions in 2008, including the Rose Bowl against Southern California. He has shown big play ability, having a rush or reception of at least 10 yards in 11 of the 13 games. In the first game of his college career, he scored two touchdowns in a 66–10 blowout win against Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
. His first 100+ yard rushing game came against Temple
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
where he ran for 132 yards on 9 carries, including a 69 yard touchdown. Against Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
, he turned a screen pass into a career long 80 yard touchdown reception, helping Penn State defeat the Wolverines for the first time since 1996.
Green was one of the bright spots for the Nittany Lion offense in the 2009 Rose Bowl
2009 Rose Bowl
The 2009 Rose Bowl, the 95th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the same-named stadium in Pasadena, California. Because of sponsorship by Citi, the first game in the 2009 edition of the Bowl Championship Series was officially titled...
. He racked up 124 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches against a stingy USC defense. However, in the second quarter, he fumbled the ball just before halftime that led to a touchdown pass by Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez
Mark Travis John Sanchez is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the fifth overall selection by the Jets and the second quarterback taken overall...
. He has used the fumble as motivation to improve and takes blame for the Rose Bowl loss, saying "We were gaining momentum, and I just let the momentum slip away. That was a letdown to my team, and I don’t ever want to have my teammates look at me as a letdown."
In the second half of the Rose Bowl, he suffered a dislocated ankle. The injury required surgery which he had in January 2009 and was out of action for over 3 months, missing all of spring practice and the Blue-White game.
2009 season
Green entered the 2009 season 2nd on the depth chart behind starter Evan RoysterEvan Royster
Evan Mathias Royster is an American football running back for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football for Penn State. Royster was a three year starter and is the all-time leading rusher for the Nittany Lions...
. He scored his first touchdown of the season against Temple in week 3. Two weeks later against Illinois, he ran for a season high 120 yards on 13 carries, including a 52 yard touchdown run early in the 2nd quarter. He added his third touchdown of the season the following week in a 52–3 rout of Eastern Illinois.
In week 7 against Minnesota, he suffered another injury to his right ankle. He had previously broke his right ankle during his senior season in high school, causing him to miss the rest of the season. He also dislocated the same ankle during the 2009 Rose Bowl, which resulted in him missing all of spring football for the Nittany Lions.
After missing games against Michigan and Northwestern, Green returned for the Ohio State game, but was limited to just two carries and one reception as the Nittany Lions were soundly defeated by the Buckeyes 24–7. In the Capital One Bowl
2010 Capital One Bowl
The 2010 Capital One Bowl was the sixty-fourth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game was played on January 1 and matched the LSU Tigers against the Penn State Nittany Lions...
against LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
on New Year's Day, Green rushed seven times for 35 yards as Penn State won 19–17.
Personal
Green has said that if he doesn't get a chance to play football professionally, he would like to be an FBI agent. He wears jersey number 21 in honor of his favorite athlete LaDainian TomlinsonLaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
.
External links
- Penn State football bio
- “PSU's Green sees bowl as springboard”, Mark Wogenrich, The Morning Call, December 30, 2009