Miami football building Shemar Stewart recruiting momentum

The Miami football program is building momentum for five-star defensive lineman Shermar Stewart. With National Signing Day looming on February 2, Miami is competing with Georgia and Texas A&M to sign Stewart. Most of the prognostications have Stewart signing with the Aggies.

After the Miami football program trended last summer, the Aggies seemed to have Stewart as part of their class without a commitment through most of the fall of 2021. When Mario Cristobal was hired as the new Miami head coach in December, the momentum began slowly moving back towards the Hurricanes.

Stewart is the 12th ranked player, second defensive lineman and top-rated in Florida in the Class of 2022. Georgia and Miami both had coaches visit Stewart earlier this month. Stewart took his official visit to Athens this past weekend and will be in Coral Gables this weekend. Stewart has frequently taken unofficial visits with Miami.

The Miami football program signed DEs Nyjalik Kelly and Cyrus Moss in the Class of 2022. The Hurricanes also added defensive linemen Jacob Lichtenstein and Antonio Moultrie as transfers. Mario Cristobal and his staff are rebuilding the Miami DL that lost four significant contributors after the 2021 season.

"Adam Friedman Rivals: “Miami seems to have momentum in Stewart’s recruitment but Georgia and Texas A&M are serious contenders as well.”"

Friedman is the National Recruiting Analyst and Recruiting Expert and Rankings Director for Rivals. Miami receiving a comment that they have the momentum for Stewart from Friedman could be a sign his recruitment is moving in the right direction for the Hurricanes. Stewart would be the top-ranked player in the 2022 Miami class.

Steve Wiltfong the Director of Football Recruiting for 247 Sports also has been impressed by how Miami is recruiting Stewart. The Hurricanes’ proximity to the Monsignor Pace star has allowed Miami to get him on campus frequently. Miami is getting Stewart on campus for his last official visit before National Signing Day.

"“Then you have Miami. He visited Miami last week. He’s going back to Miami next weekend for an official visit. It sounds like Mario Cristobal and the new staff there have made an impression on Shemar. Shemar was really giving Miami all the chances in the world under coach (Manny) Diaz.Visited Coral Gables several times. It’s convenient, right?”"

Stewart would provide Miami with three top 100 signees on the DL. Moss is the 62nd ranked player in 2022 and Kelly 85th. Miami could use Stewart as an edge rusher or inside. Andrew Ivins 247 discussed Stewart. “Has a chance to remain out edge, but future might be as an interior pass rusher as his body is starting to trend that way.”

If Miami can sign Stewart they would have one of the best DLs in the Class of 2022. Moss, Kelly and Stewart would all have a chance to compete for playing time as freshmen. Adding those three to Jared Harrison-Hunte and Leonard Taylor inside would give Miami a deep and extremely talented defensive line.