Aycen Stevens growing into his strengths at defensive end for Virginia Tech football
BLACKSBURG — “Who are you as a football player?”
It’s a question presented by Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin that Aycen Stevens pondered early in spring practice. What made the defensive end stand out among his peers? Against offensive tackles in practice?
The redshirt junior looked at his strengths. He was powerful at the point of attack. He could bully his way into winning one-on-one battles and securing tackles around the line of scrimmage.
Those traits needed to define who he is as a football player.
“My strong suits are power rush, beat them inside, get them thinking, and then I beat them outside with the speed rush,” Stevens said after Tuesday’s practice. “It’s really just playing like a chess game with the offensive line. Making your next move your best move.”
Stevens has settled into his identity as a defensive end this spring. He’s being noticed on a daily basis by defensive coordinator Brent Pry, and other coaches and players are taking notice.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Stevens is carrying the famed lunch pail. He was given the lunch pail after last Friday’s scrimmage, and he proudly carried it with him during and after Tuesday’s practice.
Virginia Tech defensive end Aycen Stevens goes through a drill during Tuesday's practice in Blacksburg.
“You notice Aycen each and every practice,” Pry said last week. “His physicality, he’s making plays beyond the line of scrimmage.”
Stevens has been a bright spot in a loaded defensive end rotation that includes fellow returners Jason Abbey and Deric Dandy along with transfers Javion Hilson (Missouri) and Cortez Harris and Mylachi Williams (Penn State).
Pry said last week that the rotation will likely feature five players during the season. He didn’t rule out having a six-man defensive end rotation, which means the final two weeks of spring practice will go a long way in setting the tone for the five who could see playing time in the fall.
“I feel like everybody’s taking that step of knowing what they can and can’t do and work on the things that they can’t do,” Stevens said.
Stevens added that former Virginia Tech defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland has been used as an example of understanding how each current defensive end needs to use his strengths.
Powell-Ryland excelled with his speed at the snap and utilized a strong spin move to get into the backfield.
Those are traits that Stevens can develop but aren’t his best fits during this spring.
“I think now I think he’s finally comfortable with who he is as a football player and playing to that. He’s a big 260- to 265-pound defensive end who’s got an unbelievable motor, who’s physical as hell, and he’s not trying to be like a finesse pass rusher anymore,” Franklin said Tuesday. “Speed to power, speed to power, speed to power, speed to power, bull rush, bull rush, bull rush. It’s just going to wear you down. He’s so consistent. He’s so consistent in his approach, in his mentality and his physicality.”
Stevens had 14 tackles (three solo), 0.5 tackle for a loss and one quarterback hurry last season. He primarily played in the 4i technique at defensive end in Sam Siefkes’ 3-4 scheme, which meant he lined up on the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle and was responsible for the B gap.
Stevens is back to lining up at a traditional defensive end spot in Pry’s scheme that utilizes a four-man front.
It’s a familiar feel to what Stevens played in as part of the defensive end rotation in 2024 on Chris Marve’s defense. That rotation featured Powell-Ryland, Cole Nelson, Keyshawn Burgos, Stevens and Abbey.
Stevens only had three tackles (two solo), one tackle for a loss, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry over 13 games, but he flashed in playing time early in ACC play at Miami and Stanford.
“I love this defense. I love the four-down front,” Stevens said. “Nothing wrong with a three-down front, but I feel like this defense allows me to play faster. Last year I was playing 4i. I was like 250 pounds. It was a little harder. I had to use speed for that and not as much power. I feel like this year I’m going to be able to use speed and power.”
Stevens was initially recruited as a linebacker. He spent the 2023 season redshirting and was moved to defensive end prior to the 2024 season.
It’s a move that has paid off as he’s grown into his body.
“At the time when they first moved me, I was a little bit upset. I thought I could play linebacker at this level. Obviously, I think I’ve gotten a little too big now to play linebacker at this level,” Stevens said as he burst into laughter. “I don’t think my feet are as fast. Once they moved me my redshirt freshman year, I made the change, we went into fall camp and I fell in love with the position. I’ve told Pry many times, ‘Man, you were right. I was wrong.’ He tried switching me right early on when I first got here freshman year, and I was like, ‘Man, just give me a chance.’ I was kind of in denial about it a little bit. Pry was right about it all along and I thank him every day because I love the position.”
The love for the position has allowed Stevens to shine midway through spring practice. He was the first player to be given the lunch pail this spring, and he’s not planning on letting anyone else take it from him.
“My freshman year, I walked into the building and a guy named Josh Fuga … was the very first lunch pail carrier when I was here,” Stevens said. “He’s an emotional guy, so he had a good speech. I was sitting in the very back of the room as a young freshman and I was like, ‘Man, I’m going to hold that pail one day.’ I got it on Friday. It was a surreal feeling for sure.”
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
