Tag: shemar Stewart

Texas A&M Football: Five way-too-early breakout players for 2023

The Aggies are equipped to put the rest of the SEC on notice so long as these five key players the next leap and breakout in 2023.

It’s the world’s worst-kept secret that Texas A&M is entering a hugely important 2023 season. The Jimbo Fisher-led Aggies are in need of a turnaround campaign this fall, but the truth is that after going 5-7 last season (2-6 SEC), there really is nowhere to go but up for this program.

Accomplishing that goal should be just a tad bit easier given the promising potential of a few players, who with another year of experience and new additions to the coaching staff, could elevate themselves from key contributors to potential stars in just one season.

Simply put, the Maroon and White have too much talent on the roster to post back-to-back underwhelming seasons. A&M has rarely, if ever, posted back-to-back losing seasons, which means the Aggies should put the rest of the SEC on notice in 2023 so long as their key cornerstones elevate themselves.

Spring football is still well underway for the Aggies, but we’re already looking ahead to which names could be the breakout players for 2023.

Texas A&M Football’s 2022 true freshmen class graded fifth-best at Pro Football Focus

Texas A&M’s true freshmen were thrust into starting action last season, and their contributions were commended by Pro Football Focus.

The Texas A&M Aggies are roughly a month out from their April 15th Spring Game and all eyes will be on the practices leading up to the action. Plenty of questions surround this season’s trajectory, but there’s also been a jolt of hope based on how the Maroon and White closed out last season.

While their 5-7 record in 2022 was an eyesore, you have to commend the Aggies on finishing the year with an emphatic upset win over LSU, all while leaning on a handful of true freshmen down the stretch.

The Aggies’ efforts warrant accolades in the eyes of Pro Football Focus, who graded last year’s true freshmen class as the fifth-best in 2022.

While the stats don’t immediately jump off the page, their numbers speak volumes given that many were thrust into SEC action ahead of schedule. Quarterback Conner Weigman embodies that revelation, throwing for 896 yards and eight touchdowns in five starts following a hand injury to Max Johnson that knocked him out for the year.

Based on how Weigman performed after being thrown into the fire it looks like he fits the bill to be the future of the program.

It would be remiss to overlook the contributions from the other true freshmen in College Station last year, including Evan Stewart, who led Texas A&M with 643 receiving yards. Donovan Green caught two touchdowns as the Aggies’ starting tight end, and starting guard Kam Dewberry and edge defender Shemar Stewart both logged snaps as true freshmen.

So when you judge the book by its cover, A&M’s record last year gets nitpicked, and perhaps it’s justified based on preseason expectations. But upon the realization that the Aggies relied on a number of true freshmen, their contributions should be recognized.

That 38-23 upset over the Tigers at Kyle Field could prove to be a sneak peek of this roster’s potential in 2023 and beyond. This true freshmen class managed to weather the storm and ended last season with an emphatic win, so you can only imagine what their ceiling looks like in year two.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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Report: Jimbo to fill out the Defensive staff with In-house promotion

Aggies Promote ‘rising star’ analyst to Defensive Back coach

Jimbo Fishers’ coaching staff is going to look quite a bit different when the Aggies take the field in September than it did in 2022. Most notably, Bobby Petrino will the one roaming the sidelines with a play sheet calling in plays to quarterback Conner Weigman, and with the departure of linebacker coach Santucci, who left to join Mike Elko at Duke, the staff on the defensive side of the ball will be undergoing some change of its own.

The Aggies are reported to be promoting Bryant Gross-Armiento from analyst to defensive back coach.  This moves pairs him with coach TJ Rushing and gives him the chance to earn some on-field experience. He is viewed by the team as a talented recruiter with a high ceiling, and now is the perfect opportunity for him to help fill the void left by Nick Willaims, who joined Deion Sanders’ staff when Coach Prime was hired by Colorado.

Gross-Armiento spent time at Wake Forest and Georgia before joining the Aggies. He was also part of the recruitment of Shemar Stewart, due to his Florida ties. With the coaching staff on both sides intact and Spring ball starting soon, it appears that DJ Durkin will be back in familiar territory coaching the linebackers.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1

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Multiple Aggies make Mid-season Freshmen-All American Teams

Multiple Aggies make Midseason Freshmen-All American Teams

One of the bigger stories coming into Texas A&M’s 2022 season was the 2022 recruiting class finally hitting the field while looking to live up to their billing as the greatest recruiting class in history. At the midpoint of the season, the Aggies are 3-3 and 1-2 in the SEC, yet the weekly bright spot has consistently been the play of the freshman class, making a notable impact on both offense and defense six games in.

Earlier this week, freshman cornerback Denver Harris was added to The Athletic’s Midseason All-America Freshman Team after accumulating 14 tackles, and 10 solo tackles so far this season and playing a pivotal role in coverage against Mississippi State and Alabama.

On Thursday, freshman starting left tackle Trey Zuhn and freshman defender Shemar Stewart were selected to the Midseason Freshman All-American team’s 1st team Offensive line (Zuhn) and 2nd team Defensive line (Stewart) by College Football News. Trey Zuhn has started every for the team despite dealing with some recent injury issues, while Stewart has recorded 15 tackles, 6 solo tackles, and 1.5 sacks so far this year.

Lastly, Tight end Donovan Green was added to On3’s Midseason Freshman All-American Team on Thursday, as the highly athletic and versatile offensive weapon, accumulating 9 receptions for 107 yards, and scoring his first touchdown against Alabama in Week 6.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Texas A&M Player Profile: Defensive Lineman, Shemar Stewart

Texas A&M Player Profile: Defensive Lineman, Shemar Stewart

Going into the 2022 football season, Aggies Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas A&M roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Jimbo Fisher this season.

Shemar Stewart is entering his first season at defensive end after becoming one of the last commits of the 2022 class in early February, essentially placing the cherry on top of the greatest recruiting class in modern history. As the top-ranked player in Florida, Stewart had 20 + offers, including Georgia, Miami, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, and LSU, but chose the Aggies. His commitment on February 2nd, made him the 8th 5-Star rated player in the class. During his time at Monsignor Pace Academy in Opa Locka, Florida, Stewart was a two-sport athlete, playing basketball as where as football, where he was one of the top defensive playmakers in the country. During his playing career, Stewart was a 3-year varsity starter, who, as a sophomore, helped lead his team to the Florida 4A regional Quarter Finals, notching 48 total tackles and 15 sacks on the year. After missing a large portion of his 2020 junior season, Stewart quickly came back to his dominant form during his 2021 senior season, recording a staggering 85 total tackles, with over 40 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks, while being named to the Miami Herald All-Dade 5A-IND first-team in the process. The old “he’s just too talented to sit” mantra may come into play when discussing Shemar Stewart, making this a good problem for Jimbo Fisher to deal with.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Miami Gardens, Florida

Height: 6-6

Weight: 272lbs

247Sports Composite Ranking

Class of 2022: 5-Star player ranking, No.1 player in the state of Florida, 3rd ranked defensive line prospect in the country

Depth Chart Overview

Shemar Stewart is currently projected as a backup rotational defensive end in Texas A&M’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme, led by the first-year defensive coordinator for the Aggies, D.J. Durkin. Stewart is looking to share snaps with Anthony Lucas (Freshman), Elijah Jeudy (Redshirt Freshman), and presumed first-string defensive end, Tunmise Adeleye (Redshirt Freshman). Stewart possesses a frame of 6-6, 275lbs, with a reported 80-inch wingspan to boot, pretty much cementing himself as a candidate to play both inside and out on the defensive line as soon as he hits the field. As a prospect, Stewart’s in-game speed is evident throughout his high school tape and successfully puts his blockers on their heels with his ferocious speed to power ability at the point of attack on a consistent basis. From a technical standpoint,  Stewart has good hands and steady footwork while showing his athleticism and ability to chase down ball carriers at a decent rate. At this stage, Stewart’s go-to “dip and rip” pass rush repertoire will need to diversify if he stays at the defensive end position, however, due to his large frame and wingspan with the ability to still add weight, Stewart switching to the defensive tackle position in the near future is a real possibility. Look for Stewart to make some sort of impact defensively any time he touches the field during the 2022 season.

Players’ Photo Gallery

 

Five-star DL Shemar Stewart commits to Texas A&M

Five-star defensive lineman and top 10 class of 2022 recruit Shemar Stewart has committed to Texas A&M on National Signing Day.

Five-star Opa Locka (Fla.) Monsignor Pace defensive lineman and top 10 class of 2022 recruit Shemar Stewart has committed to Texas A&M on National Signing Day.

Stewart picked the Aggies over Georgia and Miami. The 6-foot-6, 272-pound defensive lineman took official visits to Georgia on Jan. 21 and Miami on Jan. 28, but Texas A&M still managed to win out after hosting him for an official visit in October.

Stewart was once considered an LSU lean early in his recruitment. The Tigers didn’t factor into the equation at the end of the day, though, as the coaching change in Baton Rouge led Stewart to look elsewhere.

Stewart is the No. 10 recruit in the class of 2022 and is the top prospect in Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite. His scouting report reads:

Looks like a grown man out on the edge. Was mistaken by one recruiter for a college senior when he was a high school freshman because of his size. A legit 6-foot-4, pushing 6-foot-5. Added over 20 pounds of mass to his frame between junior and senior seasons. Still room, however, to get bigger as he’s a tad on the leaner side. Owns one of the longest reaches out of any pass rusher in the entire 2022 cycle with a wingspan that stretches well over 80 inches. Uses that length to his advantage. Has shown on tape that he’s capable of wining both inside and outside. Initial burst allows him to quickly work his way into the backfield. Does a nice job of keeping his feet moving while feeling out a situation. Powerful enough at the point of contact to walk back an offensive tackle and flush out a pocket. Not much of a finesse player at this stage in the development, but can execute a dip or rip to get around different obstacles. Tends to play with a high pad level, which can result in missed tackles. Has the foot speed to hawk down ball carriers, but needs to play through the whistle on a more consistent basis and be a difference-maker outside the hashes if he’s going to reach his full potential. Must also get more flexible. Burst onto the scene as a sophomore when he totaled 15 sacks facing stiff competition week in and week out down in South Florida. Nagging shoulder and knee injuries, however, derailed a majority of his junior season. Rare physical traits and elite testing numbers suggest that he could blossom into an all-conference type of player at a Power 5 program and eventually an early pick in the NFL Draft if everything comes together. Has a chance to remain out edge, but future might be as an interior pass rusher as his body is starting to trend that way.

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The top 10 remaining 2022 recruits ahead of National Signing Day

USA TODAY High School Sports takes a look at the top 10 remaining class of 2022 recruits ahead of National Signing Day.

National Signing Day is less than 24 hours away and there are still plenty of elite recruits who have yet to announce their commitments to play at the next level.

Three of the top 10 recruits in the class of 2022 remain uncommitted ahead of National Signing Day. Harold Perkins, Shemar Stewart and Devon Campbell are still searching for a home and are expected to announce their future plans on Wednesday.

Let’s take a look at each of the top-remaining class of 2022 recruits with National Signing Day inching closer by the hour.

5-star DE Shemar Stewart nearing commitment

Five-star defensive end Shemar Stewart will commit to Georgia, Texas A&M or Miami on Feb. 2, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. EST. 

Five-star defensive end Shemar Stewart will commit to Georgia, Texas A&M or Miami. Stewart has set his commitment date for Feb. 2, 2022. The elite defensive end plans to commit at 1:30 p.m. EST.

Shemar Stewart is one of the best uncommitted prospects in his class. The five-star defensive end plays high school football for Monsignor Pace in Opa Locka, Florida. Stewart is the nation’s No. 10 recruit for the class of 2022. He is the country’s No. 3 defensive lineman and the top recruit in talent-rich Florida.

The 6-foot-6, 272-pound senior has the size to play right away in major college football. Stewart is explosive off the line of scrimmage and possesses good bend, a key attribute for pass rushing defensive ends.

Stewart’s impactful in run defense and projects as an edge player. He’ll fit in as a 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 outside linebacker for UGA, Miami, or Texas A&M. Stewart has the size to shift inside at the college level, especially in obvious passing situations.

Stewart shows an impressive ability to disengage from blocks. He lives in the opposing backfield and has a knack for forcing fumbles. Stewart’s tape is elite and shows why he is rated as a five-star recruit.

The Monsignor Pace standout is projected to sign with Texas A&M, but Georgia and Miami will not give up without a fight. Stewart has recently visited UGA and Miami.

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The top 10 remaining 2022 recruits after the All-American Bowl

USA TODAY High School Sports takes a look at the top 2022 recruits left after the All-American Bowl.

The All-American Bowl has come and gone with numerous elite recruits announcing their commitments, but there is still plenty of class of 2022 talent available for the taking.

Two of the top 10 recruits in the class of 2022 remain uncommitted with the All-American Bowl in the books. Shemar Stewart and Devon Campbell are still searching for a home and are expected to commit on National Signing Day in February.

Let’s take a look at the recruits who join Stewart and Campbell as the top-remaining class of 2022 recruits on the market.

Top remaining uncommitted prospects in the 2022 recruiting class

Here are the top 10 prospects in the 2022 recruiting class that have not committed or signed yet.

The early signing period was loaded with surprises. Continue reading “Top remaining uncommitted prospects in the 2022 recruiting class”