After senior season derailed, Maryland football freshman DL Sidney Stewart "just ready to play"

Ahmed Ghafir
5 days ago
7 min read

A former three-star out of Concordia Prep, Sidney Stewart emerged as a Power Four prospect through his junior season after teaming up with current Wisconsin DL Ernest Willor to form a dominant tandem in the trenches. Wisconsin was among the schools pushing hardest early in his recruitment as Stewart made the trip to Madison for a gameday, but the hometown program became a growing factor months later when it became clear that staying home was an attractive option.

Recruited by assistants James Thomas and Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, Stewart was among several local targets to make their way to campus for an official visit weekend that proved to set the foundation of the next wave of talent with QB Malik Washington, OT Jaylen Gilchrist and safety Messiah Delhomme all weekend visitors who ultimately joined the heralded 2025 class. Sporting a turtle costume while doing so, Stewart announced his commitment to Maryland exactly one week after leaving campus from his official visit, opting to stay home despite interest from West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Boston College among others.

“I kind of felt it in my heart before I went on my OV,” he told IBG at the time. "That's before I realized how much went into deciding a school but then after my OVs, they were still at the top just because of relationships. They fit all my needs, I think the scheme fits me well and I think I should play at home, put on for your state."

Nearly one month after solidifying his college decision, Stewart learned his senior season wouldn’t materialize after a controversial decision tied to the COVID-shortened 2020 season ruled the incoming Maryland lineman ineligible to play in 2024. Rather than sulk over his high school career ending early than anticipated, Stewart shifted his focus toward the preparation for the next stage of his career.

“It’s rare to find, not just in this generation, but just a self-starter like that,” Dan Yarborough, who coached Stewart along the DL at Concordia Prep, told IBG. “We always had our sessions throughout the week, we were down there like four, five times a week and he’d still call me, send me a video, and ask ‘hey coach, how do you think I can bend a little bit here?’ He has clear, concise goals and he works towards them every single day.”

Where Stewart couldn’t make gains on the field, he made sure to get them off the field as the weight room became his new home with buzz quickly circulating locally through the fall that the Maryland pledge’s strength was hard to miss.

“I didn't play last season so really was getting heavy after the weights to make sure I was the right way to play at a college level, which is part of reason why I'm so comfortable,” Stewart said after Wednesday’s practice.

Training and weight lifting were areas Stewart always felt comfortable with his lifelong ties around sports giving him an area of expertise. His uncle, Larry Stewart, previously played for the Seattle SuperSonics and Washington Bullets and currently serves as the head coach Coppin State men’s basketball’s head coach with his dad, Stephen Stewart, an assistant. Now at 255 pounds, Stewart’s strength for his class has been evident since the spring, but his football IQ was equally as instrumental to his rapid development.

“By the second year we were together, we were able to go over more college concepts and we just built from there,” Yarborough added. “I really wish he had last year to put it on film, but to that effect, we got to see it in the spring.”

“I'm a humble guy, so when I got here, I kind of was expecting that ‘welcome to college’ moment that, you know, I was ready to be the bottom of the fish tank,” Stewart said. “But I mean it was like a smooth road, just kept driving.”

Yarborough noted Stewart’s role “was made for him” in defensive coordinator Ted Monachino’s system.

“The biggest adjustment for him now because he has the bend, the power, the strength to do all those things, was just learning the scheme,” he added. “Coach Monachino has been phenomenal. The position was made for him. If you cast a movie for Ted Monachino’s defense, it is Sid. Him learning the scheme, I just told him to be patient with himself - patient but assertive. He’s going to make mistakes, especially in the spring, and just learning from that but he’s going to be eager to learn and he’s been on Monachino’s hip, with guys like [David] Brownlee. Obviously, Corey [Liuget] is an elite resource for him to have there. I think it’s just coming together. I think that’s what we’re seeing now.”

Locksley noted Stewart is “made up of the right stuff” as Yarborough also credited Stewart’s development to his ability to “pick up everything extremely fast.”

“A guy that didn't get to play a senior year. I think that kind of showed him what it's like, how valuable the game of football is,” head coach Mike Locksley said of Stewart. “When you have it taken away from you, like he did his senior year, I think it made him that much more hungry. He's a coach's kid, you know, his dad's an assistant basketball coach so he kind of grew up around sports and he's added a maturity level that you don't typically see, especially from a leadership standpoint with young players. And I think both he and Malik both have shown the maturity level as young players that they'll be able to have a positive impact on our team early.”

Now 16 days away from the season opener, Stewart is ready to cement himself as an impact piece after noting the “trust my coaches have in me” heading into Aug. 30.

“Really, it's not even hunger. It's like, I'm insatiable. I'm on go every practice, I bring the same energy,” he added. “I'm just ready to play.”

“Whether you're 25 or 18, you’re going to get this work.”

More from Stewart

On Maryland leaning on freshmen in 2025

“The easiest way for me to explain is, like, I feel the creativity. I feel like, because we [are] younger, we're not really stuck in our ways, like we kind of play with, like, this freshness. It’s like a cold drink, it's like it's just cool to see. It's refreshing, because we do something new every day that you might not expect from us.”

On the idea of playing a big role in Maryland’s defense as a freshman

“It excites me because it shows the trust my coaches have in me. So I really appreciate that, especially as a younger guy, certain programs, they don't run it the same way, regardless of how you perform it while you're younger, they still might not play you. So I appreciate that level of trust. And then also, I mean preparation just makes me comfortable to play so I don't feel no pressure, no heat. I'm ready to, whether you're 25 or 18, you’re going to get this work.”

On his focus after being sidelined for senior season

“I didn't play last season so really was getting heavy after the weights to make sure I was the right way to play at a college level, which is part of reason why I'm so comfortable. Also mentally, I'm sure guys that have been injured or maybe had to sit out, they understand what it's like to not be able to play and you have to recalibrate your mind. It was just a good experience for me in the end.”

On playing under DC Ted Monachino

“Coach Monachino, real life a genius. Love coach Monachino. I love the position he put us in because it's like, like I said, he allows us to be creative and go out there and play but he also schemes guys to do what they can do.”

On going against the OL in practice

“They're making me better, help me build my confidence. They have played against guys in college ball so, like, it's hard for me to know where I stack up. So they let me know like I'm one of the better guys they've gone against which I appreciate. Actually on the field aspect that allows me to implement like realistic rushes. In high school you can kind of get away with some stuff just because you're playing lower-level competition, but right now, I had to be more precise and accurate, and I appreciate them for that.”

On donating $4,000 to Concordia Prep in the spring

“So stuff like that. I view that as like a win-win-win. I get good media. I get to help the people I love and the people there, they get to get some good things with that. So win-win-win, not just a win-win. So I hope that they able to do something with that and I hope I continue to grow my success, so I can keep giving back to them.”

How Stewart views himself among Big Ten freshmen to know

“I'll view it as advantage, because there's probably not many teams that know who I am. I really wasn't that highly recruited. Part of that is because I didn't play my senior season, so I'm kind of like a hidden thing that we got going on. I'm making a little bit of buzz now, but right now, not many people know who I am so I think that's probably the biggest advantage. Like, we got a secret weapon.”

On staying locked into his commitment despite Maryland’s 4-8 record in 2024

“That doesn't really affect me. It's not the same team. You never really have one same team after years of college, guys graduate, guys transfer, especially now, so that doesn't really affect me at all. I still believe in the systems my coaches have in place and the morality that we have as a team. And even if things aren't right, then that just gives me the opportunity to come in and change it.”

On being cousins with Derik Queen

“Oh, well, he came to my commitment party. I love, first of all, I love DQ. That's my dog. Really, like the only cousin, one of the few cousins I really grew up with. I wouldn't say it had a huge impact. I think, you know, God just has a plan, and the dices roll how they roll.”

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