Steve was a 1994 graduate of Colbert County High School where he was a member of the football, basketball and track squads. In football he was All-Area and All-State in both his junior and senior seasons as well as being chosen 3A State Player of the Year those same seasons. He was selected to the Alabama Sports Writers Super 12 Team in his junior and senior campaigns and he was the MVP of the ASWA Super 12 Team his senior season. Steve led the Indians to the 3A State Championship while accounting for over 2600 yards in total offense as a junior and in his senior season he had over 3300 yards in total offense accounting for 37 touchdowns. He was also a gifted basketball player and was selected to the All-State Team as a senior averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds per game. A versatile athlete, Steve set state records in the long jump and triple jump as a member of the Tribe track team. After high school Steve signed a football scholarship with the University of Alabama after being offered by every SEC School. He was a four year letter-man for the Crimson Tide and won the Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award in 1998.