Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Assistant, 5-star DE Stewart find common bond
MIAMI — In the 2021 recruiting class, the Miami Hurricanes landed prospects that were ranked the nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle (Leonard Taylor) and No. 1 safety (James Williams) from their own backyard — Taylor from Miami Palmetto and Williams out of American Heritage.
South Florida is at it again in the 2022 class as Miami Monsignor Pace’s Shemar Stewart is ranked the top defensive end and fifth player overall, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.
Stewart’s primary contact on the Hurricanes’ coaching staff: Fellow Pace alum and cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke.
“Every time he calls me, he’s like, ‘You go to Pace, and everyone who goes to Pace, comes to Miami,’” said Stewart (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) at Sunday’s Under Armour All-America camp event at Ives Estates Park. “So, you know, it’s only right.”
Van Dyke, who was promoted to cornerbacks coach this offseason from his previous support staff recruiting role, was a Pace grad in the 2007 class that went to UM and played six NFL seasons after running his blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2011 NFL scouting combine.
Former Miami quarterback Stephen Morris went to Miami out of Pace in the 2010 class.
In the years before Van Dyke, Pace grads Maurice Sikes, Joel Rodriguez, Tervaris Johnson and Lavon Ponder were among others to go to UM in recent memory. Even Williams in the incoming class attended Pace as a freshman in high school when he first got on the recruiting radar.
Miami coach Manny Diaz had an up-close look at Stewart on Sunday. Although there is an NCAA recruiting dead period in place through at least May 31, which doesn’t allow for in-person contact between prospects and college coaches, Diaz was present at Sunday’s camp because his son was participating.
“I didn’t even notice until I was doing the reps, and I was like, ‘Whoa!’” Stewart said of seeing Diaz there in UM colors.
Stewart said he feels Hurricanes coaches are personable and build relationships with prospects, as opposed to simply trying to get them to commit. His overall impression of Miami: “I like the coaches, and they have a good team.”
But he also lists LSU, Georgia, Clemson and Texas A&M among schools high on his list. The two predictions that have been submitted for him on 247 Sports have him picking LSU.
“That’s what a lot of people think,” Stewart said. “That’s because I mention them a lot.”
Stewart hopes the recruiting dead period, in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is lifted at the end of May so he can take college visits over the summer.
“It’s been tough,” he said. “I don’t really like Zooms.”
Before the lockdown, Stewart said he had been to Miami’s campus four times, but it’s now been over a year since the last instance.
One thing working against the Hurricanes: Stewart values getting the college experience away from home.
“I’ve been trying to get out of town,” he said.
Already selected to the Under Armour All-America Game, Stewart didn’t participate in 1-on-1 drills on Sunday — just some individual work.
“It helped me brush up on the fundamentals,” he said.