after graduating junior college, he accepted a scholarship to attend rutgers university, switching between offensive and defensive line before settling in as a starter at right guard in 2006. at defensive line 26 tackles/ 3.5 sacks/ 11 tfl, senior year earned all big east honors, and made the rivals.com all-bowl team. with all the success he was invited to the 2007 nfl combine and also was invited to play in the senior east-west shrine game after it was all said and done stephenson entered the nfl draft as the number 6th ranked guard in the nation.