The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1083898
BY ANDREW HUSSEY Offensive lineman Jack Stewart grew into a dominant football player with the help of a second sport. In addition to his exploits on the gridiron, Stewart also wrestled in high school, which boosted his de- velopment as a lineman. "Wrestling was definitely huge in my football career," Stewart said. "I started as freshman, and I was ter- rible. They threw me in at varsity. I got my butt kicked, people were taking out my legs and I was getting pinned in 10 seconds. "Wrestling helped me with using my hands and staying low, but I think the number one thing it helped me with is just my mental strength." New Canaan High School head coach Lou Marinelli also saw that wrestling has benefited Stewart greatly in terms of teaching him body control and giving him a killer in- stinct. "With most kids you have to say, 'Go to the whistle,'" Marinelli said. "With him, you have to say, 'Jack, when the whistle blows, stop.' "He's a pretty confident kid. … A lot of times it's more trying to control him. He just has that streak in him." Marinelli said Stewart's mindset is a high school coach's dream on the prep level. The youngster played on both sides of the ball and started be- ginning his sophomore season. Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic recruiting analyst Adam Friedman likes Stew- art's ability to play multiple positions along the offensive line. "I like his versatility," Friedman said. "He can play guard or tackle, and he's got good athleticism and strength. He's somebody that I could see being a utility guy for Michigan early in his career and moving into a starting role when he's physically ready. "Building a cohesive unit on the offensive line is priority number one for Michigan. As long as he improves and gets acclimated to Michigan and their system quickly, I could see him moving into a starting role within two years of arriving on campus." In addition to his versatility and mentality, Stewart also thinks he can bring some impressive athleticism to the table. "I think my best attribute is my speed," Stewart said. "I think fast, quick, athletic linemen are what foot- ball is turning into, and that's what I want to be; I want to be an athletic lineman." Marinelli predicts his star pupil will be very successful at U-M. "He has the wrestling background, he's smart and he can read defenses," Marinelli said. "He's able to under- stand schemes, and he's going to get after you. He's not going to stand around. He's going to pick someone out and go after them." ❑ Jack Stewart's Wrestling Career Has Helped Him On The Gridiron HONORS • 2018 first-team All-State pick per USA Today and the Connecticut High School Coaches Association. • Walter Camp All-Connecticut first- team choice as a junior and a senior. RECRUITMENT • Committed on April 16, 2018. • Recruited by offensive line coach Ed Warinner and defensive coordina- tor Don Brown. DID YOU KNOW? • His team fell in the state finals last fall and reached the title game three times during his career (2015-16, '18). • Had 57 tackles (40 solo), five sacks and seven tackles for loss as a senior. • Also wrestles and was the Class L runner-up for the fourth-place team as a junior. THEY SAID IT • New Canaanite spor ts writer Terry Dinan: "Jack is an absolute war- rior. He played both sides of the line as a senior captain … on almost every snap the Rams had this past year and was a huge part of their run to the state championship game. "He just had a knack for making the big play in big moments. Every time his team needed someone to step up, Jack seemed to rise to the occasion." "I think Jack will be successful at Michigan because he has all the at- tributes that successful athletes have. He is physical, aggressive, smart and will do anything to help his team win." • Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic recruit- ing analyst Adam Friedman: "He's a guy who can play tackle or guard, and he's really physical and athletic. He has no problem setting up and mirroring a defensive lineman in pass protection, but also gets downfield and makes key blocks in the running game." JACK STEWART OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-4 • 280 NEW CANAAN HIGH SCHOOL NEW CANAAN, CONN. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 79* 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ 424 41* 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 47* 4 * Ranking as an offensive tackle 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 2019 Projection Depth along the O-line could be well established by the time Stewart arrives, and that's how it should be. It's not ideal if freshman offensive linemen are thrust into action, and Stewart almost certainly won't be needed, which will give him plenty of time to pack on weight and get stronger. He'll have the ability to grow, develop and learn under the talented linemen ahead of him. Stewart was named his team's MVP as a senior. PHOTO COURTESY JACK STEWART MARCH 2019 THE WOLVERINE 67