SEARCY - Rene Stephan, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound outside linebacker from San Jose, Calif., has signed a financial aid agreement and will join the Harding University football team for the 2009 season.

Stephan will be a junior and is transferring from De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif., where he earned First-Team All-Conference honors as a linebacker. He led the team with 76 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

A graduate of Los Gatos High School, Stephan recorded 68 tackles and three sacks as a senior and earned First-Team All-League honors. Los Gatos finished 11-2 his senior season and won the Central Coast Section championship.