Interview: 2020 WDE Jashaud Stewart is a Nightmare for Opposing Arkansas Offenses

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

There was a terror lurking around northeast Arkansas football fields during the 2018 season. That nightmare for offensive tackles, running backs, and quarterbacks preyed upon 6A competition asserting his will upon others for 81 stops, 59 solo, 22 tackles for a loss, five sacks, seven quarterback hurries, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, and one interception. The rising terror is Class of 2020 defensive end Jashaud Stewart suiting up in disguise for Jonesboro High School. Don’t let the football uniform fool you, the 6-2, 216-pound, defender is a beastly weakside defensive end just scratching the surface of his full potential.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the top ends coming out of the Natural State in the 2020 class to learn more about his game and emerging recruiting prospects.

Interview

Jashaud, on defense, you have a knack of putting offensive linemen on roller skates. Do you test well in the weight room or is a lot of that strength physical giftings?

(Laughs) “It is great genetics and testing well in the weight room.”

I know it has been awhile since teams have maxed out in the weight room, but do you remember your maxes from the offseason?

“Yes, sir. My bench was 315, power clean 315, and my squat was 485.”

Impressive.

“Thank you.”

How long have you been playing end?

“This is my second year playing end.”

How did your game develop throughout the 2018 season?

“I got better with my technique, I was faster off the ball, more aggressive and more confident.”

You got that rare pick in the trenches this season. Walk me through the play with the ball in the air, you snagging it, and taking off running.

(Laughs) “When I saw the ball in the air, I was thinking this is my chance to take it back. I got it, I was running towards the end zone but I did not look around the field and a dude horse-collared me pulling me down from the back. My teammates were going crazy after the play.”

Which game this season was your best, and why do you consider it to be your best?

“I’d say the Benton game was my best. I was on. I showed improvement in that game. They were passing a lot, I went one on one against their guard and tackle; I got back there a lot. I was explosive in the run game. I ran down a lot of plays and made a lot of tackles.”

What do you consider to be the strengths of your game?

“I feel like my quickness, physical strength, and play recognition are strengths to my game. I can see the plays early.”

What are a couple of areas you will work on this offseason?

“Oh. My footwork, I’m in yoga working on my flexibility, and I want to get faster this offseason. I am working hard on becoming faster. I need to do a lot of yoga to become more flexible.”

You are listed as a running back, are you going to line up in the backfield next season?

“My sophomore year I played some running back when our other running backs were hurt. I played running back from 4th to my 9th grade year.”

Going into recruiting, which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?

“I am receiving interest from Memphis, Mississippi State, and Arkansas.”

Have you had a chance to visit any schools yet?

“Yes. I took a visit to Memphis.”

That’s great. How did it go?

“It went well. We had a long road game the night before. I got up to the game late, and did not get the full visit experience. We got there at the start of the game. But, I did meet Coach (Scott) Symons, their linebacker coach, and talked to him after the game. I talked to him and some of the other coaches as well. It was a good visit.”

Jashaud, thanks for your time today and good luck with your offseason workouts.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Stewart family; No. 22 Jashaud Stewart