Michigan received a Friday commitment from wide receiver I’Marion Stewart who announced for the Wolverines at the OT7 event in Los Angeles.
Stewart, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound rising senior who is at Chicago Kenwood after playing his first three seasons at Bolingbrook, becomes the 20th commitment in the Wolverine class. He chooses them over offers from Wisconsin, Colorado, Georgia, Texas A&M, Miami-FL, Oregon and more.
“First off, it was the feeling I get from Michigan,” Stewart said when explaining his commitment. “The feeling I had there was that it always felt like home. The relationship they built wasn’t just with me, but with my family members also — my mom and dad. They would check in every day to see how we were all doing. Coach Moore and Coach Bellamy did that for sure.”
Stewart has relationships with some of the Illinois natives on the team like Tyler Morris and J.J. McCarthy, and has been to Michigan nearly ten times for visits, but it was a more recent trip that truly sealed it for him.
“It was probably about that last visit I had during the spring time. That’s what did it,” he said.
In addition to feeling close with the staff, Stewart also liked their plan for him and how they would use his skills.
“So they compare me to Roman Wilson, so they show me lot of plays where they give him ball off the run, short pass game, deep pass game, show me how they get the ball in his hands,” Stewart said. “They have a lot of different ways to get the ball to him and let him make something happen and they match my skill set with his.”
Stewart has visited Michigan for games and seen what a full Michigan Stadium looks like. He will now have an opportunity to wear the winged helmet and suit up in front of that crowd. While that is exciting to him, at the end of the day, it is still business as usual.
“I mean, it’s crazy,” he said. “But it’s still the same thing I’m used to, but just with a lot more people. All those people don’t get in my head too much. I’ve been doing this 12 or 13 years, so it’s nothing new, it’s just a new atmosphere.”
“this year, he had 950 yards receiving I think and returned punts and kicks,” says former Bolingbrook head coach John Ivlow who coached Stewart for three years. “He’s a phenomenal punt returner, probably the best I’ve had. Even on kickoffs, he’ll break that first tackle. A lot of guys try to take him down and he’ll truck ‘em, or bounce off his thighs. If he can put on another 15 pounds this year going into next season, look out.”
Stewart is an 89 and high three-star per 247Sports. He is a four-star per the 247Sports Composite. The Composite has him the No. 27 wide receiver recruit in the 2024 class and No. 7 senior-to-be in the state of Illinois.
He joins Channing Goodwin as the two current receivers in Michigan’s class.
Signing Day 2023: Updates on recruiting buzz, big commitments
The marquee day of the college football recruiting calendar will feature twists, turns, drama and flips like it always does. Follow along for the ride as we update you on the day’s biggest news.
National Signing Day is here, kicking off the three-day Early Signing Period that runs Dec. 20 through Dec. 22. The marquee day of the college football recruiting calendar will feature twists, turns, drama and flips like it always does. Follow along for the ride as we update you on the day’s biggest news.
8:28 a.m. ET:
Ohio State felt good about hanging on to five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston, but sources around Buford (Ga.) High actually suggest that he will flip to Alabama. The Crimson Tide have 247Sports No. 3 recruiting class as we start the day. Ohio State still hasn’t heard anything and will battle to keep him in the fold.
8:20 a.m. ET:
Still expecting Buford (Ga.) High Top247 defensive lineman Eddrick Houston to stick with Ohio State despite late visits to Alabama and Clemson. The Buckeyes have 247Sports No. 2 class.
8:00 a.m. ET:
Logged a 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast regarding Clinton (NC) High Top247 defensive lineman Amaris Williams to ultimately flip from Florida to Auburn. Sources around The Plains feel good and a source around Gainesville also thinks that’s how it plays out. Ohio State has tried to make a final push and remains in the picture but the strongest intel is around Auburn. Williams is 247Sports’ No. 1 prospect in North Carolina, No. 8 defensive lineman in the country and No. 34 prospect overall. The Tigers come into the day with 247Sports No. 11 ranked recruiting class.
I think Florida hangs on to five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray but he’s still talking to other suitors including Auburn and Florida State.
Logged a 247Sports Crystal Ball in favor of Miami for Top247 linebacker Adarius Hayes. He visited Coral Gables a few times this fall including his official this past weekend. Sources around the Hurricanes feel good. Around the Gators they’re happy with the two other touted linebackers in the fold in Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles.
Logged a 247Sports Crystal Ball in favor of Florida regarding running back Jadan Baugh. The Gators had the momentum going into the final two official visits to Gainesville and Alabama, the Crimson Tide made it interesting but the intel favors the Gators at the end. Also don’t sleep on Florida for offensive lineman Favour Edwin. Auburn and Alabama have had momentum at times with Edwin but it could be the Gators winning out in the end.
7:30 a.m. ET:
One of the most anticipated signings of day will take place at Buford (Ga.) High this afternoon when 247Sports’ No. 1 ranked safety KJ Bolden puts pen to paper.
Will it be in favor of Florida State, where he’s been committed since August? Will it be Auburn who’s had some late momentum? Or will it be Georgia who has been inside the Bolden house twice over the last two weeks as well.
Around Florida State, a source said it could go either way but the belief is they once saw Auburn as the biggest threat but now believe it’s Georgia.
Auburn has felt strong about their position, but going into the night they too thought Georgia was rising.
Around Athens, there has definitely been good dialogue down the stretch.
Florida State was Bolden’s dream school. He’s built a great rapport with the staff, visited a couple times this fall including his official last weekend and believes under Mike Norvell it’s blossomed into a title contender. With Georgia he likes the history of player development, proximity from home, and the fact that not only is Will Muschamp one of the most accomplished safeties coaches in the country but that’s Kirby Smart’s background as well. Auburn is exciting to Bolden, he loves his time on The Plains and the culture Hugh Freeze is bringing and sees it as a place on the rise similar to where FSU was a couple years ago.
I think the Bolden camp has given Florida State reason to believe he’ll stick but again Georgia is one to watch at the end and Auburn will keep battling.
