[1] He was a prominent running back for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team of the University of North Carolina.
He was selected third-team for an all-time Carolina football team of Dr. R. B. Lawson in 1934.
[2] Joel Whitaker selected him first-team for his all-time UNC squad.
[3] It is thought that the first forward pass in football occurred on October 26, 1895 in a game between Georgia and North Carolina when, out of desperation, the ball was thrown by the North Carolina back Joel Whitaker instead of punted.
Stephens caught the ball and ran 70 yards for a touchdown.