USC’s Jahkeem Stewart Named to Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List

LOS ANGELES–USC defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List, in the present day (Aug. 26). The award is introduced to essentially the most excellent freshman participant (true freshman or redshirt freshman) in faculty soccer.

Stewart, who enrolled at USC within the spring of 2025 after reclassifying and forgoing his senior yr of highschool, will compete for taking part in time at defensive sort out as a real freshman in 2025. 

FOX Sports lately named Stewart as one in all the nation’s Top 10 impression freshmen heading into the 2025 faculty soccer season. 

Stewart, a five-star recruit, was one of many prime gamers nationally within the 2025 recruiting class. Prior to reclassifying, Stewart was the No.1 total participant within the 2026 class. Even after reclassifying to the category of 2025, Stewart was nonetheless one of many nation’s highest ranked prospects. He was rated because the No. 1 participant within the state of Louisiana by ESPN and Rivals and No. 2 by On3 and 247Sports. He was touted because the No. 1 defensive lineman within the nation by ESPN and Rivals, No. 3 by On3 and No. 9 by 247Sports. He was rated because the No. 8 participant within the nation by Rivals, No. 11 by ESPN, No. 25 by On3 and No. 54 by 247Sports. He was eighth on the Rivals 250 List, eleventh on the ESPN 300 List, sixteenth on the On300 List and 54th on the Top247 List.

He was named a 2024 MaxPreps Preseason Junior All-American, a 2024 MaxPreps Preseason All-American and 2024 PRZLA Preseason All-State honoree. He was ranked the No. 1 total participant on the ESPN Jr. 300 listing for the Class of 2026.

Stewart had a extremely productive 2023 sophomore marketing campaign at St. Augustine with 85 tackles, together with 33 for loss (with 20 sacks), 6 pressured fumbles and a couple of fumble recoveries. He was named to the 2023 All District 5A-9 First Team, the 2023 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American First Team and was a 2023 Louisiana Sportswriters Association 5A All-State Honorable Mention. Prior to the season, he earned placement on the 2023 MaxPreps Preseason Sophomore All-American First Team. He was invited to the 2023 Under Armour Next Camp Series in Los Angeles the place he was ranked as the highest prospect.

Stewart was the highest performer on the FBU Freshman All-American Game in 2022.

The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award will as soon as once more be introduced on the Maxwell Football Club Awards gala, together with a number of of the opposite prime awards in faculty {and professional} soccer.

 

The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been introduced to the College Freshman Player of the Year since 2018 and is called in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout on the University of Alabama and the 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks. Past winners embrace Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) – 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis)-2019, Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) – 2020, Brock Bowers (Georgia) – 2021, Drake Maye (North Carolina) 2022, Caleb Downs (Alabama) – 2023 and Colin Simmons (Texas) – 2024.