The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516256
2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ 50 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MARCH 2024 BY EJ HOLLAND Michigan made Chicago Kenwood wide receiver I'Marion Stewart a top priority through the majority of the 2024 recruit- ing cycle. Stewart was considered a Michigan lean for almost an entire year. However, U-M had to work to seal the deal and fi- nally did just that shortly after his sum- mer official visit. "Michigan just came out on top," Stew- art said about his recruitment. "It felt like home. They showed me the most love and the most respect. I would probably say I knew the end of my junior year. I don't know how many visits I ended up taking, but I got that feeling that Michigan was the place. I didn't get that at any other school." Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy is a big reason Stewart landed in Ann Arbor. Bellamy developed a strong relationship with Stewart and his family and sold them on the fact that he played wide receiver at U-M and in the NFL. "I already have that bond with Coach Bell," Stewart said. "When I get down there, I get to spend a lot of time with him, and with him coaching me up. He's going to help me evolve as a wide receiver and become a better person as well." Stewart, the No. 53 wide receiver and No. 351 overall prospect nationally, was one of the most dynamic high school players in the Midwest. As a senior, he played everything from wide receiver to kick returner to punt returner to running back to cornerback. It's obvious that Stewart brings plenty of versatility to the table. And he fully ex- pects to be used as a Swiss Army knife of sorts in Michigan's offensive scheme. "I think I am going to fit in well," Stew- art said. "I talked to the special teams coaches, and they're going to have me back there on punts. As a receiver, I think they'll use me a lot like Semaj [Morgan] and Roman Wilson. Semaj isn't the tall- est, but he is that guy. He shows that I can do it." Stewart is just the latest Michigan re- cruiting win out of Chicagoland. The Wolverines have focused in on the area in recent cycles, and Stewart has plenty of ties to players already on Michigan's roster. He is from the same club 7v7 program, Midwest BOOM, as J.J. McCarthy and senior Tyler Morris, and he is a former high school teammate of junior Tyler McLaurin. "It's good that Michigan is recruiting here because we're slept-on in the Chi- cago area," Stewart said. "But there is a lot of talent here, and it's spread across the Big Ten. I saw J.J. McCarthy and Ty- ler Morris go from Nazareth Academy to Midwest BOOM to The Big House. See- ing that is great. I'm excited to be a part of it." ❑ Chicagoland Wide Receiver I'Marion Stewart Can Be A Versatile Offensive Weapon For The Wolverines Stewart earned Illinois 7A All-State honors as a senior at Chicago Kenwood Academy and also was a U.S. Army Bowl selection. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND 2024 Projection Stewart is a versa le offensive weapon with experience playing mul ple posi ons at the high school level. While the opportunity for him to contribute at wide receiver will be limited, Stewart is capable of ge ng on the field early as a kick and punt returner, where the Wolverines have a need. STATISTICS Year Rec. Yds. TD Rush Yds. TD 2023 38 909 9 14 128 3 HONORS • Had 3 return touchdowns on special teams as a senior. • In 2022, totaled more than 900 yards receiving and 400 yards in returns with 13 all-purpose touchdowns. HONORS • Illinois 7A All-State pick (2023). • U.S. Army Bowl selec on (2023). • PrepStar All-Midwest Region (2023). • FBU Freshman All-American (2020). RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan June 16, 2023, a er receiving offer in April 2022. • Picked U-M over notable offers from Georgia, Miami and Oregon. • Recruited by U-M wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy. DID YOU KNOW? • Former high school teammate of Michigan junior linebacker Tyler McLaurin. • Also le ered in track and field. • As a junior, posted indoor season bests with 6.87 seconds in the 55-meter dash, 7.40 in the 60-meter dash, 24.33 in the 200-meter dash and 20 feet, 8.5 inches in the long jump. • Transferred from Bolingbrook High to Ken- wood Academy as a senior. • Son of Ira and Sequi a Stewart. • Born Nov. 15, 2005. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "I saw I'Marion at OT7 Finals and got a pre y good look at him up close. He's a shi y and cra y receiver who is effec ve at working the short to intermediate parts of the field. He can get open in the red zone and is probably more of a possession receiver than a big-play threat. He's very reliable and understands how to impact defenses underneath." I'MARION STEWART WIDE RECEIVER 5-11 • 180 KENWOOD ACADEMY CHICAGO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 351 53 10 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 78 11 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 67 11 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 60 9 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 128 26 5 INDUSTRY