Stewart verbally commits to UCLA
Will play for UCLA Bruins
Benicia High School football player Croix Stewart still has another year to play at Drolette Stadium, but he can already smell the roses.
Stewart, a transfer from American Canyon High, made a verbal agreement this week to study and play football at UCLA after he graduates from high school in 2022.
“I like that the school has everything I’m looking for in a college,” Stewart said. “The coaching staff contacted me this year and instantly took a liking to me.”
UCLA went 3-4 in 2020 and finished in fifth place in the Pac12. Stewart has been told by the coaching staff at UCLA that he’ll likely play cornerback or safety in college.
“The defensive back coaches say that I’ll primarily play what they call a “striker,” which is kind of a blitzing safety,” Stewart said.
No matter where Stewart plays, Benicia High head coach Craig Holden thinks that UCLA is getting a great player and person.
“He’s long, he’s lanky and fast. He’s 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds. What’s not to like?” Holden said, with a laugh. “He runs a 4.4 40 and always goes
out there and competes. He doesn’t talk a whole lot and he just goes to work every day in practice. He wants to get better every day. I’m excited he found his school, because he has a lot of offers, but I’m also glad I have him another year.”
Stewart said he travels to L.A. a lot with his family, and at an early age he knew he wanted to go to UCLA or possibly another Pac-12 school like Oregon.
“When I was talking with my brothers, they told me not just to look at a place as a football school or academic school but also if I would like living in the area for four years,” Stewart said. “I feel UCLA is in a really nice place. I haven’t been on the campus yet, but I’ve studied it and I’ve driven by the school in the past. I like that it’s not too far away from home and that my parents
can make the drive to see myself play.”
Stewart said the process of picking a college has been a fun one, but at the same time he said it feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders by making his final decision.
Stewart is just one of a few Benicia players who have made verbal commitments. Miles Bailey and Simeon Harris have each recently made verbal agreements to go to Fresno State, according to Holden. He feels running back Janari Boone could pick a college sometime soon as well.
All these players will be on the field at Drolette Stadium on Friday when the Panthers try and even up their record at 2-2 with a game against Will C. Wood.
“We need to be better disciplined on defense especially since (Wood) runs the ball a lot,” Stewart said. “We need to stay disciplined against the pass as well.”
Holden believes the team played well last week in a
loss to Acalanes, but the seven turnovers really hurt them.
“If not for the seven turnovers, we could have won 35 or 42-27 and I would have been happy with that,” Holden said. “Our defense has played well all season but we need to take better care of the ball.”
Holden said he likes winning games just as much as the next guy, but this year the ultimate goal is a little different.
“Four weeks ago we first started practicing and six weeks ago we didn’t think we would have a season,” Holden said. “So this is all bonus time. I’m glad the seniors get to have a season and that all the players are having fun playing with their friends and competing.”
Kickoff for Benicia’s game against Will C. Wood is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Alhambra at St. Patrick-St. Vincent
7 P.M. AT DANTE MAGNANI No, that’s not a
FIELD >>
typo. The St. Patrick-St. Vincent High football team will play Alhambra on Friday, just two weeks after it won 47-0 in a previous matchup on the road. In a five-game Diablo Athletic League season, this what you get.
In the last matchup at Knowles Field, the Bruins had four turnovers on defense. Two of the interceptions came from Zion Booker.
Also playing well two weeks ago was Ja’vione Shepherd. Shepherd was 13 of 20 for 219 yards with four passing touchdowns and another 84 yards on seven carries and a touchdown on the ground. He did not have an interception and wasn’t sacked.
Bobby Brooks also played well the first time against Alhambra, rushing for a game-high 105 yards on 10 carries and had three total touchdowns. He also had an interception on defense.