Once again it is the first of the week, which means it is time to anoint another Independence Bank player of the week. Independence Bank is proud to sponsor a weekly article highlighting players in the areas where Independence Bank flourishes who embody the same type of revolutionary service to their respective football teams which has made Independence Bank unique and special in the banking industry. Independence Bank has a goal of achieving everyday excellence and this week we are focusing on a player whose performance exceeded both the Shamrocks’, and the Louisville community’s, expectations. We are focusing on a DE who seemed to both strive for and achieve excellence every single day he walked on either a practice or playing field. That player is Class of 2019, 5 Star rated, Michigan commitment, Stephen Herron, Jr. from Louisville Trinity High School.
Stephen Herron, Jr., is a 6’3.5″ 235 pound edge terror which some publications have rated as highly as a 5 Star prospect but which all publications, this one included, believes to be Kentucky’s best prospect in the 2019 Class. Like many of Louisville’s elite athletes, namely Rondale Moore, who was recently awarded this same distinction, Herron trains offseason, and even in season, with Chris Vaughn at Aspirations Fitness Institute.
Herron committed to Michigan and Coach Harbaugh at the Big House Barbecue Event and is blessed with great size and frame for the position at which he projects, which is Defensive End. Chris Vaughn, who we were able to interview concerning a feature written about his protégé and published preseason told Kentucky Prep Gridiron that Herron is a…big time athlete who has put in both the work and time into his body. Vaughn has particularly been impressed with Herron’s commitment to the weight room and excelling both on and off the field. Heck, Vaughn told Allen Trieu, in an interview for Scout.com, he would be proud to let Herron date his daughter, if he had a daughter. Of course Chris, that is easier said when you don’t have one. Off the field, we have been told Herron has before worked with a charity to benefit underprivileged children. Heck, I think I might let him date either of my daughters and I have two.
Louisville Trinity is a tough and rigorous academic curriculum which hasn’t deterred Herron from exhibiting an academic prowess to go along with his physical one. Herron’s clearing the NCAA requirement for admission, or Michigan’s for that matter, shouldn’t be any impediment to his matriculation. Vaughn told Kentucky Prep Gridiron Herron has a 4.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and has taken the ACT, achieving a qualifying score. For kids out there hoping to be recruited, academics and qualifying test score really are important to coaches today. It doesn’t help any school to waste scholarship money on players the school can’t keep eligible. Schools with the academics of Stanford (and Michigan too for that matter) don’t usually recruit kids who will struggle with admission. Stanford offered Herron and really pushed for his commitment, sources close to the situation told us before Herron decided on Michigan.
Herron transferred into Louisville Trinity from New Albany, Indiana where Rondale Moore and he both played Indiana 6A football as freshmen before relocating. All Herron did at New Albany was start as a freshman and earn the team’s Defensive Player of the Year distinction, so he became a “Rock” at Trinity with the Shamrocks knowing, full well, what they were getting.
Before committing to Michigan and in addition to his offer from the Stanford Cardinal, Herron held offers from Texas and Ohio State among his 17 Power 5 Conference offers which demonstrates both his athleticism and intelligence. We asked Vaughn why he thought his protégé committed to Michigan and he told us he believed Herron felt comfortable both with the campus and program. Herron being reasonably sure Harbaugh was settled and not likely to go anywhere else was important too. Vaughn tells KPG that Herron can get a lot better than he is presently, which may not bode well for offensive tackles hoping to contain him and backs, be they Quarter or Running, hoping to avoid him.
Congratulations to Stephen Herron, Jr. for his Revolutionary Play which has earned him this week’s recognition from the fastest growing bank in the Commonwealth of Kentucky…your friends at Independence Bank. This is Fletcher Long reporting for Kentucky Prep Gridiron reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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