In the high-stakes world of college football recruiting, 17-year-old Jahkeem Stewart is making a multimillion-dollar bet on himself. The five-star defensive end prospect, once ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2026, is skipping his senior year of high school to sign a lucrative NIL deal and enroll early at his chosen college.
Stewart’s journey is as fascinating as it is unprecedented. Despite playing only 12 varsity games in his high school career, the 6-foot-6, 290-pound phenom is poised to choose between powerhouse programs Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and LSU when the early signing period opens on Wednesday. Whichever school lands him is expected to offer a NIL package potentially worth over $6 million, an astronomical sum for a prospect with such limited game film.
A Prospect Like No Other
Stewart’s unique blend of elite measurables and raw potential has college scouts salivating. Boasting a towering frame with an 82.5-inch wingspan and 4.8-second 40-yard dash speed, he possesses the versatility to dominate across the defensive line. As one ACC personnel staffer noted, “He won’t come in with the reps at that position. So where is he mentally from a football standpoint? You can’t re-create the game environment.”
Yet Stewart and his camp remain unfazed by the doubters. His trainer and guardian, Clyde Alexander, points to Stewart’s lifelong preparation for this moment: “From day one, he has been training to be a pro. Not even just physically, but training to have a pro mentality.”
Unconventional Path to Stardom
Stewart’s journey took an unexpected turn this fall when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association ruled him ineligible after an in-season transfer, leading him to reclassify to the 2025 recruiting class. While sidelined from competition, Stewart doubled down on his professional-style training regimen with Alexander, aiming to arrive on campus ready to make an immediate impact.
When people see me go get 10-plus sacks next year, they’ll see I lived up to the hype.
Jahkeem Stewart
Betting on Potential Over Proven Production
For college programs pursuing Stewart, his commitment represents a substantial gamble on traits and potential rather than a proven body of work. An FBS director of player personnel expressed reservations: “I don’t care how big and strong you are, it’s still a developmental sport where reps are the first-, second- and third-most important thing to your growth and development. For someone to be skipping that, I’d have a lot of reservations.”
However, Stewart’s elite training pedigree and flashes of brilliance have many scouts convinced he’s worth the risk. Said one SEC scouting director, “If he was still the top prospect in 2026, you’d be paying out the a– for that kid. Kids like that don’t grow on trees. It’s a risk you can afford to take.”
A Defining Moment Approaches
As the early signing period looms, Stewart sits on the precipice of a life-altering decision, the culmination of a meticulously planned journey that veered off the beaten path. Reflecting on his unconventional route, he mused, “If I would have played this year, I never would have had the time to do what I’ve been doing these past three months to get me ready for college. That was fate.”
Come Wednesday, the football world will learn where Jahkeem Stewart is staking his claim, and the multimillion-dollar bet on his future will begin in earnest. For a prospect defined by his rare blend of talent and ambition, the true test of his gamble is about to unfold under the bright lights of college football’s biggest stage.
