'A happy moment for the whole family': East High School's Ziaire Stevens commits to Purdue
One of the top players in the Akron City Series is headed to the Big Ten to play college football.
East High School junior running back Ziaire Stevens committed to Purdue, announcing the news Tuesday afternoon on social media. Stevens helped the Dragons reach the OHSAA state playoffs and win a share of the City Series title.
Beyond excited to announce I have committed to Purdue University! Beyond Blessed @steadycoaching @BoilerFootball @CoachConard 🚂🚂 pic.twitter.com/U0XJ1yisYc
— Ziaire stevens (@ZiaireStevens) November 7, 2023
In a phone interview Tuesday night, Stevens told the Beacon Journal he chose Purdue because of the bond he has been building with running backs coach Lamar Conard since his freshman year at East and the amazing time he had visiting the Boilermakers during their Sept. 2 season opener against Fresno State.
“[Conard] was at Miami, Ohio, when he first started recruiting me,” Stevens said. “And then once he got to Purdue, he stuck by me. He had faith in me.”
Stevens also had offers from Akron, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Kent State, Marshall, Massachusetts, Pitt, Temple and Toledo. In addition to Purdue, Stevens said he strongly considered Cincinnati, Pitt and Boston College.
Stevens rushed for 2,001 yards and 20 touchdowns on 238 carries during the 2023 season. He was selected the City Series Offensive Player of the Year.
Stevens was at his best in East's showdown vs. Buchtel, rushing for 251 yards and two TDs on 32 carries in a win over the Griffins.
Among his highlights during his sophomore year in 2022:
Running for 322 yards and two TDs against Brush
Gaining 203 yards and scoring a TD against North Royalton
Rushing for 175 yards and two scores on 22 carries in a win over Firestone
Make no mistake about this: Stevens is proud to represent Akron Public Schools as a Big Ten recruit.
“When I was younger, I didn't think APS was big on student-athletes," he said. "I thought it was always the St. Vincent-St. Marys and the Archbishop Hobans. But now, once I got older and I started to see the program [East] coach [Marques] Hayes was building and the guys he was sending to college, it was a program that attracted me and somewhere I want to be. So I just want to put on for the little kids and the people who want to go to the next level and show them that it's possible.”
Stevens said he had been contemplating this decision for months and made up his mind a couple of days ago. His loved ones were thrilled about Tuesday's announcement.
“It was huge,” Stevens said. “Everybody was excited. They were all congratulating me. It's just a happy moment for the whole family.”
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ziaire Stevens of East High School commits to Purdue University
