With a smooth backpedal, closing speed and a 76.25-inch wingspan, Bishop Gorman cornerback Hayden Stepp is a 5-star prospect, the No. 38 recruit and No. 5 cornerback in the 247Sports Composite.
Down to a final four, Stepp has official visits scheduled to all of his contenders over the next five weeks:
May 29: Alabama
June 12: Oregon
June 15: California
June 19: Georgia
HIs recruitment becomes even more critical to the Ducks after Donte Wright flipped from Georgia to Miami. Many analysts had Dan Lanning and Chris Hampton as the favorite to land Wright, but Mario Cristobal swooped in with an irrestible offer.
Stepp is far more than a consolation prize. At 6-3.5, 190 pounds he's fluid and aggressive, a cornerback who likes to mix it up in coverage with the frame to contest the ball. He's quick to stick his foot in the ground on screens and outside running plays, and he's well-coached at Gorman, a national program that takes on schools like Mater Dei and East St. Louis in a national schedule, training in a sophisticate Division I environment.
Stepp shines as a cornerback with length and aggressiveness
Stepp breaks on the ball with elite speed and a willingness to be physical. He's not afraid to mix it up, and in that quality he reminds the scouts of Brandon Finney, pressing, getting his hands on receivers, pushing the limits in coverage.
He's tenacious in recovery, using his long arms to contest the catch, battling receivers throughout the play.
He's been a three-year starter at Gorman, visiting Oregon for Junior Day on January 31, getting a home visit from the Oregon coaches in April.
An Under Armour All-American, he earned Defensive MVP honors at Future 50 last June, the longest of the top cornerbacks.
Not many 6-3 rising junior cornerbacks backpedal like Hayden Stepp (@HaydenStepp412) #UANext pic.twitter.com/flQMrXgEx6
— Brian Smith (@fbscout_florida) June 29, 2025
In March he told Chad Simmons of Rivals, “It is very close between Alabama and Oregon. Both schools will definitely get official visits. I will be at Alabama on March 9, and I know I will visit Oregon this spring too. It is really tight at the top between those two schools.”
The Ducks are off to a strong start in 2027 recruiting, especially on defense. The class currently ranks No. 9 in the Composite. In the secondary Chris Hampton has landed three four-stars, Semaj Stanford, Dothan, Alabama prospect Ai'King Hall and Josiah Molden, the playmaker from West Linn High School and son of Oregon great Alex Molden.
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