South Carolina wide receivers technician Justin Stepp is in his first season as a coach in South Carolina, one of five new offensive coaches in the transition from head coach to Will Muschamp to Shane Beamer. Below is Stepp with microphone at a recent Gamecocks football practice.
He is in home!
Meet one of the best young coaches in the country – @CoachJStepp! ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/qq9yEnmlse
– Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) March 31, 2021
Stepped was hired as a trainer for Gamecocks wide receivers on January 4. BIn Columbia and graduated from neighboring Pelion High School, Stepp has spent the past three seasons as a wide receiver trainer at the University of Arkansas. During his time at Fayetteville, he had five players combined in six seasons of 400 yards and 26 touchdowns. In 2020, Treylon Burks became the first wide receiver in Arkansas to earn All-SEC recognition since 2015, after holding 51 receptions for 820 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2019, Burks and Trey Knox were one of the first fledglings to receive tandems in the country, combining for 57 receptions and 860 yards, the majority among SEC freshman doubles.
Outside the field, Stepp was voted one of the top 25 recruiters in the country by Rivals, thanks to the addition of four four-star recipients. The Razorbacks were the only team in the country to hire four four-star wide receivers in the class of 2019. In the four recruiting classes of Stepp on Hill, he brought in seven 4-star recruits. In addition, Stepp was selected to participate in the 2018 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, a prestigious program that aims to identify and develop the main leaders in the football coaching profession. He was also named a finalist for the 2017 FootballScoop Wide Receivers Coach of the Year award.
“I am happy to welcome Justin home,” said Beamer on the day of signing. “He has achieved so much as a recruiter and coach in his career. I knew him before he was hired, but after several conversations with people across the country, it was clear that he would be a fantastic addition to the team.”
“I am honored to be part of Coach Beamer’s team in South Carolina,” said Stepp. “Obviously, it’s a chance for me to come home. I grew up going to the Gamecock games and it will be a dream come true to be able to train backstage at the Williams-Brice Stadium alongside Coach Beamer.”
Prior to his arrival in Fayetteville, Stepp spent three seasons (2015-17) as the wide receiver coach at SMU under coach Chad Morris. Stepp’s protégés, Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn, were two of the most dynamic wide receivers in college football in 2017 and each was selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Mustangs boasted one of the most prolific attacks in the country with All-Americans Sutton and Quinn, each posting 1,000-yard receiving seasons. SMU was one of only two schools with multiple 1,000-yard receivers in 2017. In addition, Sutton and Quinn were the only pair of teammates to rank in the top 10 on touchdown receptions and combined in a dozen receiving games. 100 yards.
In 2016, Sutton led the SMU attack for the second consecutive season, carrying 76 passes for 1,246 yards and 10 TDs to become SMU’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2013. In addition, James Proche, picked up 57 passes for 709 yards and six scores on your way to the honors of Freshman All-America.
Stepp’s first season at SMU saw him transform Sutton into a Freshman All-American in 2015, after leading all FBS freshmen with nine touchdowns. He set an SMU freshman record for receiving yards with 862 and tied for the most touchdowns by a freshman.
Stepp’s first university role was as a wide receivers trainer at the 2012-14 Appalachian State University. While at App State, he trained three players who won five distinctions from the All-Southern Conference, including the All-American Sean Price, who set the NCAA Division I FCS freshman records with 81 receptions and 1,196 reception yards in 2012.
Stepp starred at Pelion High School, helping the Panthers to an invincible regular season in 2000, before becoming a major receiver and punt debtor at the 2003-06 Furman. He won All-SoCon’s recognition as a junior and senior and ended his playing career with 1,568 yards, 10 touchdown receptions and 118 receptions, good for fourth on the school career list at the time.
Stepp’s professional career started as wide receivers and strength coach at Fort Mill (SC) High School in 2007 before becoming the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for NCAA Division II North Greenville in 2008. He worked as an assistant degree at Clemson 2009-11.
Born on July 5, 1983, Stepp and his wife, Brooke, have a son, Courtland Spencer, and a daughter, Allison Blair. His twin brother Josh is an assistant coach in Georgia.