re: Jahkeem Stewart - 2025 #19 by On3 (5*); ESD and EE; OV on 11/9. What has he indicated?

91 looks good to me

quote:

---

kids these days are much more prepared to play right out of high school

---

Again, what DL has done it successfully?

There are plenty of beast DTs who aren’t ready at 19.

DT is one of the hardest transitions because of the physicality and this kid is going to be a year younger.

He’s also listed at 6-6 270. which is big but not SEC interior linemen big.

This kid is unlikely to be better at 18-20 than he will be 19-21.

quote:

---

Again, what DL has done it successfully?

---

Good grief this is stupid. Can you name a DL who has done it *unsuccessfully*? MAYBE you can name one? In any event, there's very obviously not enough data to establish that reclassifying has a major impact on career success one way or the other - because the 3-year rule for CFB/NFL draft means that reclassification is barely a thing in CFB anyway. One thing is for sure: It's not as though the annals of CFB history are littered with failed reclassed defensive linemen lmao.


There are, however, plenty of guys who came in and were impact DL as true freshmen. The past prospect I've said all along that Stewart reminds me of in terms of his level of physical dominance is Myles Garrett - who had 11.5 sacks and 14 TFL as a true freshman. A recent 5* DT whose body type and role are highly reminiscent of Stewart's (tho i think stewart has more athletic juice) is Bryan Bresee, who started right off the bat for clemson and made 1st team all-ACC as a true freshman. Ed Oliver, another 5* DT, had 23 TFL for Houston as a true freshman. Gervon Dexter was a 5* much in the physical mold of Stewart who was a major contributor for Florida by the time his true freshman season concluded. DeMarvin Leal started for A&M as a true freshman. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis were both major parts of UGA's DL rotation as true freshmen. Christian Wilkins was a major contributor for Clemson as a true freshman. Jeffrey simmons at A&M, Kenny Clark at UCLA, chris jones at mississippi state, etc etc etc - the list goes on.


Point is: It's not at all out of the question for true a freshman DT, especially a top-of-the-rankings 5* type like stewart and like most of the guys listed above, to come in and be a major contributor in his first year. And Stewart is a 5* even with the reclassification - it's not like he's just better than HS underclassmen; he might be the best HS defensive lineman full stop. He's won the MVP at plenty of major camps that included guys from the 2025 (and in some cases the 2024) class. Is he a guarantee to contribute right away? No, nobody is - but it's absolutely possible.



And by the way... you realize he has 5 years to play 4, right? There's no requirement that he has to come in and start on day 1. Were you concerned that dom mckinley and gabe reliford weren't going to work out when we signed them in the 2024 cycle? No? Because guess what: Right now, today, Jahkeem Stewart is much much further along (a) physically, and (b) as a player than either of those guys were in october of their senior years. If you weren't whining and being worried about them, then why are you whining and being worried about stewart?

quote:

---

Okay? Did they implement a new rule that says if you reclassify you're only eligible until your 19th birthday? I must've missed that.

---

no but he won’t be 20 till his JR year.

quote:

---

Also, just FYI: There are plenty of beast DTs who ARE ready at 19. Neither those guys nor the guys who aren't ready prove anything with respect to the merits of Stewart's decision to reclassify.)

---

No there aren’t Plenty of them. Compared to RB and WR where people have come in and been not just good for a FR but objectively good, you just don’t see it happens anywhere near as often at DT.

quote:

---

See how you didn't say "because of the birthday"? You said because of the physicality. So what we should be evaluating here is Stewart's physicality. Which is, btw, absolutely elite, and ahead of where dom mckinley and gabe reliford were at this point in their senior years.

---

he’s 277 pounds that’s just light. and McKinnley was light too. But McKinnley didn’t skip a year of physical development to come to college.

It’s not whether this kid will be good, but whether his college career is best served by being on the younger end.

This move is because hell be 20 years old as a JR and won’t turn 21 until right after the draft. Thats great from a prospect standpoint.

But is his college career best served being 18 and 19 his freshmen and sophomore season vs being 19 and 20?

Exactly, people also keep saying he’s 277 like that means anything, 99% of DT prospects are 275 pounds plus coming out of high school. Just take a look at Stewart’s legs and then try and convince yourself he’ll be dominating sec players next year (he won’t, he like most other DT prospects will need to gain tremendous amounts of muscle in his lower body). These people keep seeing 6’6 277 and think that means he’s ready, he needs a year of intense lower body exercises. Even Breaux at 245 lbs last year had thicker legs coming out than Stewart

I am fairly certain Amobi Okoye started for the u of Louisville at DT at 16 after only playing 1 year in high school.
Went on to be drafted in the 1st round

Davin Goucheaux started as a freshman and Breaux is doing it this year, but both were out of necessity. I would rather have DT’s that are 20-22 years old that have been in the program a few years.

Doesn’t have to play next year. He’s in better hands getting coached up by two of the best defensive line coaches in college over any highschool coach. I wouldn’t expect the dude to come in and start right away as a 17 year old. However, you get a talent like him on campus however you can.

Stewart will be 18 when he takes his first college snap