Rhamondre Stevenson facts for kids

Rhamondre Stevenson (born February 23, 1998) is a talented American football player. He plays as a running back for the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Patriots chose him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Rhamondre Stevenson grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He went to Centennial High School. When he was a junior in 2015, he was named the Las Vegas Sun High School Player of the Year. This award showed he was a top player in his area.

College Football Journey

Stevenson started his college football career at Cerritos College. He played there for two seasons. After that, he moved to the University of Oklahoma to play for the Sooners.

Playing for the Oklahoma Sooners

In his first five games at Oklahoma, Stevenson scored a rushing touchdown in each game. During his first season in 2019, he played in 13 games. He then faced a temporary suspension and missed the 2019 Peach Bowl. He still finished the season with 515 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Stevenson returned to play six games into the 2020 season. In his first game back, he scored three rushing touchdowns. This helped his team win 62–28 against Texas Tech. The next week, he rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns. He also gained 60 receiving yards in a big 62–9 win over Kansas.

Two weeks later, he had an amazing game against Oklahoma State. He gained 195 total yards in a 41–13 victory. Stevenson was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2020 Cotton Bowl. In that game, he rushed for 186 yards and scored a touchdown.

Professional NFL Career

The New England Patriots picked Rhamondre Stevenson in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He was the 120th player chosen overall. He signed his first professional contract with the Patriots on May 19, 2021. This contract was for four years.

2021 Season: A Strong Start

Stevenson didn't play much in his first eight games. But in Week 9, he had a breakout game against the Carolina Panthers. He gained 106 total yards. He had a 41-yard catch that led to a Patriots touchdown. He later left that game due to a concussion.

The next week, the main running back, Damien Harris, was out. Stevenson started the game against the Cleveland Browns. He scored two touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards. He also caught passes for 14 yards. The Patriots won that game 45–7. In Week 11, he led the team in rushing against the Atlanta Falcons. He gained 69 yards on 12 carries in a 25–0 win. He continued to be the team's second running back. He finished his first season with 606 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He played in 12 games and started two of them.

2022 Season: Breaking Out

Stevenson had an amazing season in 2022. He started as a backup but quickly became a key player. In Week 5, he rushed for 161 yards against the Detroit Lions. The Patriots won that game 29–0. The next week, in his first start, he rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns. This helped his team win 38–15 against the Browns.

In Week 15, he had his best game yet. He rushed for a career-high 172 yards and one touchdown. He finished the 2022 season with 1,040 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He also led the team with 69 catches for 421 receiving yards and one touchdown.

2023 Season: Continued Contributions

In the 2023 season, Stevenson continued to be an important part of the Patriots' offense. He carried the ball 156 times for 619 rushing yards. He also scored four rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he caught 38 passes for 238 receiving yards. He played in 12 games during this season.

2024 Season: New Contract and Challenges

On June 20, 2024, Stevenson signed a new contract with the Patriots. It was a four-year deal worth $36 million. This showed the team's belief in him. However, on October 4, head coach Jerod Mayo announced a change. Stevenson was moved from his starting role because of issues with fumbling the ball.

Despite this, Stevenson still had strong moments. In Week 8 against the New York Jets, he rushed for 48 yards and two touchdowns. One of these touchdowns was the game-winner in a close 25–22 victory. In the 2024 season, he had 207 carries for 801 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 168 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.