With the 228th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select Iowa State offensive lineman Reggie Stephens. Cincinnati is working towards adding personnel with their offensive linemen to improve the overall position filled with versatility. Much like Hudson, Stephens is likely a candidate for the team's practice squad. This will allow the Bengals to call up players based on injuries with anyone on the line during the season with a long-term vision of becoming a backup, if not starter.
Stephens is a career starters at guard and center with the Cyclones who was on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. The following is a story about the road Stephens took to get drafted into the NFL. CDS Draft writes his strengths as:
Versatile player who has started at both guard and center. Huge, thick NFL frame and strength. Mauler who gets movement off the ball. Decent feet and a solid athlete for one so large. Can pull in a short area. Absorbs the bull rush and is solid vs. quickness. Appears to be in better shape than past seasons.
Joel Welser writes in a scouting report for FF Toolbox:
Reggie Stephens stepped into a starting role as a freshman at Iowa State and four years later he had started 36 consecutive games until he missed a contest during his senior season following an appendectomy.
Stephens' strength is his versatility. As a redshirt freshman in 2006 he started the last four games of the season at right guard. In 2007 he started all 12 games at left guard. In 2008 he started at both guard spots and in 2009 he even spent some time at the center position. He is an experienced player who can fill an important role off the bench in the interior of the offensive line for any NFL team. Stephens even earned some national recognition during his senior campaign and was an honorable mention on the All-Big 12 team.
Stephens has gone under the radar for the most part due to the lack of a potent offense at Iowa State. While the 6-3, 333 pound Rowlett, Texas native has plenty of strength, his footwork is a concern. He will need to prove that he can compete day in and day out with the big boys if he wants to hear his name on draft day. His best chance to do that is if he can get invited to the NFL Combine and some of the events during Senior Week.