Stephen Herron Jr. is only a sophomore, but the four star defensive end from Trinity High in Louisville, Kentucky, has already developed a mature perspective on and off the football field. He knows what he is looking for in a future college and he is driven to earn his way equally as a student and athlete.
According to Herron, defensive coordinator Lance Anderson visited recently and defensive line coach Diron Reyenolds will visit next week. Unfortunately, Herron is nursing a bad hip and won’t be practicing with the Shamrocks, who last year finished No. 16 in the country.
“I’ve told him (Anderson) how I feel about Stanford and how much I like them,” Herron said. “He told me, ‘Stephen, don’t worry. It (an offer) is coming. Give us some time because Stanford works a little slower than others.' Every time I talk to him I say, ‘Coach, whenever you have the opportunity, let me know. You guys are a great school, so you will definitely be a top priority very quickly given the stature of Stanford and the weight it carries through the football community.’”
Herron holds a 3.9 unweighted GPA and takes multiple AP courses. He took an AP world history exam this year and has only earned two Bs, one in theology and a “high B” in an English course. And with football offers from Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State and many others it’s no surprise that he’s attracted the interest of Stanford’s coaches.
“I’ve always liked Stanford and not even as an athlete,” he said. “If something happened with football, I always wanted to go to a place like Stanford or Duke. With football in the equation it changes it a little bit. Stanford is a great place, great people around you and you have good destinations around you.”
Herron’s maturity is evident in how he views football as something that can be taken away at any moment. And maybe a pro career doesn’t develop the way he hopes.
“My parents always told me, “Stephen, you’re going to be good in school.’ I’m blessed that my parents are so hard on me because what if something happens? Anything could happen (playing football) and it may not even be big. But football won’t be as big for you because of that. I plan to do as best as I possibly can in school so I can get academic scholarships, too, to be honest."
Herron took the SAT for the first time and scored an 1170. He plans to take the ACT June 10 and is aiming for a 27.
“If I was a regular student, I could get into school,” he explained. “That’s how I want to be able to go to college. Football didn’t get me in here. I got myself in here and football happens to pay for it. An 1170 likely won’t get me into Stanford or Duke, but it would for all my other offers, except maybe Michigan, too.”
Herron said he has watched older students not take the tests as seriously as they needed and left it until during their senior football seasons. He doesn’t want to experience that and is willing to put in the work as a sophomore.
“I just want to ball and do school,” he said. “That is why my plan is to commit before senior season or definitely before that Christmas. I want a good relationship with my coach and know what I have to do going in.”
Herron wants to major in business and law: “So obviously I don’t have to worry about that with Stanford.”
Having already visited multiple schools, including recently to Vanderbilt and Michigan, he has an idea of what he wants a school to offer.
“I’m looking for the best combination of my major, playing early -- getting substantial time in year one -- and have a good relationship with my coach,” he said. “If I can have those three things all in the same place that would be great.”
Herron hopes to visit Stanford this summer. He told Anderson that whether Stanford offers “now or later” he will still visit. His father occasionally is in California for business and they may be able to work in a trip to Stanford.
And if he chose Stanford he wouldn’t be the only member of the Herron family to move to California.
“My parents are moving no matter what,” he said. “Even if I go to Louisville they’ll move out of the city and to a place they can get some land. Maybe even build their own house. Distance is not a factor. They’ll move not far away.”
Herron wants to narrow his list of schools by the end of summer, but he admitted it's a soft deadline if a school comes in later that he decides to consider. He doesn't plan to be a regular on the camp circuit, either. He prefers to rest and focus on school and the upcoming season at Trinity against a tough schedule.
