Saturday, June 17, 2023

I'Marion Stewart, Wolverine

 

Chicago (IL) Kenwood wide receiver I'Marion Stewart (image via On3)

Chicago (IL) Kenwood wideout I'Marion Stewart committed to Michigan on Friday evening. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Georgia, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, among others.

Stewart is listed at 6'1" and 180 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 79 grade, #54 WR
On3: 3-star, 89 grade, #72 WR
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #26 WR, #155 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 89 grade, #57 WR

Hit the jump for more.


Stewart attended Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook until this off-season and was offered by Michigan back in April of 2022. He followed up that offer with several unofficial visits, including for the BBQ at the Big House in July of 2022 and for a couple games in the fall. Michigan seemingly identified him as one of their most important wide receiver targets early on, even though his ratings are so-so (he's a 3-star on three of the four major sites). The Wolverines have been the leader for months, and it's not even clear who was in second place. Stewart took an official visit to Ann Arbor last weekend and made his commitment public on Friday night.

Stewart has some juice as a big-play receiver. His acceleration stands out, as he gets to top speed rather quickly out of his stance. He changes direction well, and he can be tough to keep up with the way he bends. At a listed 6'1" - if he indeed is that height, which I have questions about - his low center of gravity gets him out of his breaks quickly. That acceleration also makes him dangerous after the catch, because he has the ability to catch short passes and find seams in the defense to burst upfield and split defenders.

On the negative side, Stewart has a slight build and he may struggle a little more in college with making contested catches. He can be a bit of a body catcher and does not always extend his hands to snag the ball. His routes lack some refinement; he does not set up all of his routes well and could afford to work back to the ball a little more.

Overall, Stewart is a nice piece of the puzzle in the 2024 recruiting class. He reminds me a little bit of former Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate. Stewart is the second receiver to join the class (Channing Goodwin was the first) and the twentieth player overall. While Michigan has landed a few Bolingbrook graduates, including cornerback Todd Howard and linebacker Tyler McLaurin, the Wolverines have never signed a prospect from Kenwood Academy, which is where Stewart will spend his senior year.

As for filling out the receiver class, Charlotte (NC) Providence Day wideout Jordan Shipp has received some recent predictions to join teammates Goodwin and Jadyn Davis in Ann Arbor.

TTB Rating: 80

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