title image via Howard University Athletics
Courtesy of Lauren Stewart, International Affairs graduat, Howard University
Leonard Stephens, Jr. is a Miami native, but grew up in Mercer County, N.J., where he was a multi-sport student-athlete at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School in Princeton Junction, N.J., competing in football, basketball and track. After lettering in all three sports, Stephens earned an academic and football scholarship to Howard University.
While at Howard, Stephens earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Academic Awards and Second Team All-Conference honors.
Upon graduation, he spent two years on Wall Street as an Investment Banking Financial Analyst with JP Morgan Chase before joining the National Football League (NFL).
In 2002, Stephens formally began his NFL career with the Washington Redskins, now the Washington Commanders, and over his six- year career, he played for the Detroit Lions, the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans.
Since retiring from the NFL in 2008, Stephens has become a sports focused entrepreneur. He is the owner and founder of Perfect Performance as well as its affiliated sports entities.
Perfect Performance is a sports institute focused on developing youth, high school, college and professional athletes through training programs, club teams, leagues and camps & events for football, baseball, softball, girl’s lacrosse, boy’s lacrosse and field hockey.
Stephens has one daughter, Kendall, and one son, Leonard III, with his wife Dr. Candice Turpin- Stephens.
About Where Are They Now?
The weekly series of “Where Are They Now?” appears on Thursdays throughout the year.
The series will feature former student-athletes from all sports and eras, highlighting their careers as athletes at the University and what they are presently doing.
