Maryland football edge rusher Sidney Stewart looking to lead, build on freshman year success

Aug 8

2 min read

Sophomore edge rusher Sidney Stewart will look to replicate what proved to be a record-setting freshman season, but he’s working to do so a bit differently.

After making the jersey change from 29 to 11 back in the spring in addition to trimming his dreads, Stewart knows year two marks the chance to reach the next stage in his development.

“I think I'm just growing up, second year in college and stuff. I think the hair was cool, was a little childish. I had orange dreads, so it's like, I just got it over with.”

Part of that growth came with him stepping into a mentor role after Zion Elee, who lived down the street from Stewart growing up, has been able to lean on Maryland’s star edge rushers through the first months on campus. “He's kind of been dealing with being a five star, being number one for some time now, so he kind of understands that you know there are people that are with him and people aren't necessarily with him. And luckily, we treat him like family, we coddle him, and we're allowing him to take in all the info.”

The longstanding, meaningful relationship between the two allows Stewart to be “pretty straightforward with him” as Stewart and Zahir Mathis have taken Elee under their wings whether it be in practices or offseason workouts over the last nine months. That’s part of Stewart’s focus ahead of year two. “I think because I have some experience now and I played and all those things, I think I should now take some time off myself and start to help those around me,” Stewart said.

While defensive coordinator noted that Elee is “in the process of learning the system and learning where he fits” as he adjusts to Big Ten football, Stewart also highlighted the development of another in the room months after head coach Mike Locksley praised DD Holmes.

“He's really smart. He's one of my best friends. So to see him take strides and leaps forward, it's just for our room and for him as an individual,” Stewart added.

Yet with a season under his belt, Stewart is also working to grow his own game with the speed rusher. After starting in all but one game and ranking sixth in the Big Ten with seven sacks, leading all Power Four freshmen in the category, the Joppatowne native knows that increased attention and double teams could be part of the 2026 gameplan. How opposing coordinators gameplan to stop a pass rush that features multiple capable pieces in Stewart, Mathis, Holmes, Elee and Nahsir Taylor is another question, but Stewart knows being gameplanned against is “a mark of a good player.”

“It just feels like respect and it's something that just is going to force me to evolve and force me to get better and stuff. I think that's what all the good edge guys in the league deal with, and even in college. So it's something I started to deal with throughout the season, even last year, because you know teams have game films from the previous games. So definitely something I'm ready for. Definitely something I've been preparing for.”

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