By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Overcoming adversity is a tough thing to do at times. Tennessee Tech graduate offensive lineman Trevor Stephens knows that well.
But through everything, the Woodstock, Ga., native continued to work and inspire his Golden Eagle teammates, leading to his selection as the latest Unsung Leader Award winner.
Fighting through a couple of injuries over the course of the campaign, Stephens continued to take the field for the Golden Eagles in 2023 and only missed one start in the season – to be at his family's side for a medical emergency. After the untimely passing of his father, Stephens came back and completed the campaign with his teammates and continued to be a guiding force.
Even on days that Stephens was unable to practice, he was mentoring and encouraging his teammates to do their best.
"Trevor has been the ultimate student-athlete," said acting head coach Sam Williamson. "He has been a great teammate, a great player, a fantastic leader, phenomenal in the classroom and one of the guys that is at almost every community service activity. He is and has been everything you want as a representative for our football program and University. I'm sure his dad is in heaven smiling with joy right now."
Stephens started 10 of Tech's 11 games and was a crucial piece to the Golden Eagle offensive line as it protected the quarterback for the fourth-fewest sacks allowed in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association, as well as 3,320 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns.
It is for these qualities and dedication that Stephens is the recipient of 2023 October Unsung Leader Award presented by Golden Oak Sedation Dental & Implant Center.
The Unsung Leader Award is selected from student-athletes, who have been nominated by their coaching staff, for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during a given month. The leadership can be shown on the field, in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom, in study hall, on campus, in the community, or for a student club or organization.
The award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
- Keep learning, growing, and improving
- Follow through with excellence
- Accomplish more than expected
- Inspire and motivate others.
Photo by Emily Armstrong
