Nate Stephens shows hard work pays off, signs with Cumberland University

Published 2:50 pm Friday, March 3, 2023

 By Ron Marvel

Star Correspondent

This week Elizabethton Cyclones running back made his collegiate choice known by signing with Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. Stephens has had a stellar career helping the Cyclones win two State Championships and a State Runner-Up trophy. Last season alone, Stephens ran for 20 touchdowns and had 1305 yards. The mark Stephens left on the Cyclones will not be one easily eroded away.

When you talk to Cyclones Head Football Coach Shawn Witten, you hear a coach that could easily talk about a player that represents what Coach Witten desires out of all of his players who don the black and orange.

“When you have unselfish kids that are willing to play wherever you put them, we have moved him everywhere for his career of over 2000 yards and 50 touchdowns; if Nate would have made it about himself, he could have had a lot more.” But for Stephens, his time at Elizabethton may be best known for the character he displayed off the field. “His integrity, 3.96 GPA, taking college courses, graduating with honors, he takes it to extreme levels on and off the football field.” Stephens work off the gridiron did not go unnoticed, being recently recognized by the Mountain Empire Foundation, which nominated him as one of their Scholar Athletes. Coach Witten also shared how Stephens gives hope to a lot of kids in the way he handles himself on and off the field. “Kids who come to this school can look to Nate for the example of how to conduct themselves,” Witten stated.

Perhaps no game symbolizes who Nate Stephens was as a player more than the 2021 Greeneville Quarterfinal game, where he had three pass breakups and the fourth down stop against the Greene Devils, giving the ball back to the Cyclones and eventually knocking off rival Greeneville.  In addition to football Stephens has excelled on the basketball court and the track as well. “He’s never cheated the football team; he’s never cheated the basketball team or the track team with all that going on; I never saw Nate have a bad day,” Coach Witten added. His high character and work ethic obviously stood out to Cumberland University Phoenix, who look at him as a slot receiver, a position that demands focus and fearlessness. One of the main points Coach Witten wanted to bring out was the work ethic and dedication Stephens showed each day and how contagious that was with the Cyclones. According to Coach Witten, Nate Stephens signing represents the coming together of the community and the school, and he could easily see Nate being a guy who could come back and reinvest in his community. “In the toughest moments of the game and life, Nate is that guy you want, that person who will have your back,” Witten exclaimed.

And while Coach Witten could brag for hours on the person and player Nate Stephens is, Stephens himself was extremely humble and quiet and just thanked God and his family for this opportunity he’s been given. “It’s a privilege and a blessing to go out and do what God has blessed me to do; my family has been so supportive,” Stephens shared. Nate Stephens knows what this opportunity means and values it more for the opportunity it means to his education. He also acknowledged how the loss of his grandfather became a motivating factor in him becoming the athlete and person he has become. When asked how he wanted to be remembered, one word came from his mouth “hard worker.”

Next August will be here sooner than you think for the Elizabethton Cyclones football team and someone will take those carries in the backfield and someone will catch that screen pass in the flat; those actions are replaceable. The intangibles Nate Stephens brought, his work ethic and high character, will be a tall order, even for a Cyclones team that is known to be a reloading team and not a rebuilding one.