Stewart will keep roaming for Freedom
Jalen Stewart shouldered the rushing load during Freedom’s postseason run last season. On defense, he played a leading role in a linebacking corps that ranked among the Lehigh Valley’s best.
The Patriots are prepared to give their two-way senior standout more to do in 2019.
At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Stewart is built to handle whatever workload Freedom’s football team requires of him. That should include time at inside and outside linebacker as the Patriots look to take advantage of his size-speed combination.
Freedom employed a similar strategy last season with Tristan Wheeler, now a Richmond freshman. Wheeler amassed a team-best 102 tackles as the defensive leader for Freedom’s 2018 team that won a share of the EPC South title and claimed the District 11 Class 6A crown.
Stewart had 58 tackles last year, tying for second on the Patriots. He also recorded 3½ sacks and two fumble recoveries.
“He’s just so versatile,” Freedom coach Jason Roeder said while taking a break at Thursday’s practice. “He’s up to 225 pounds, but he’s still athletic enough to play on the outside. He’s physical enough to play on the inside.”
Stewart’s size and athleticism will also keep him part of Freedom’s running-back rotation. He topped the Patriots with 180 carries, 946 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns last season.
Stewart averaged 20 carries and 109.3 rushing yards in Freedom’s four playoff games. That included a 178-yard, fourtouchdown night against Emmaus in the District 11 6A final.
Junior Matt Russin also returns in the backfield. He ran for 935 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per carry as a sophomore.
While Russin and Stewart will run behind an offensive line with at least three new starters, Stewart doesn’t ex
pect any drop-off. He cherishes what the Patriots accomplished last year, when they won the first District 11 title in program history. He doesn’t feel satisfied, especially with college coaches still pursuing him.
Stewart has already landed offers from Army, Navy, Towson, Monmouth, Fordham, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. He hopes he can parlay his senior season into more opportunities.
“Right now I’m just blessed to have those, because it’s always been a dream of mine to play Division I football,” Stewart said.
Stewart’s dreams also include another long playoff run. The early strides the Patriots have made in camp have pleased him.
“Obviously it [ last season] puts a bull’s eye on your back,” Stewart said. “You can’t ever be complacent, really. You have to work like you didn’t win last year. You have to put that behind you, as great as it was, and continue working every day.”