Josaiah Stewart
{{Short description|American football player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Josaiah Stewart
|image=Josaiah Stewart (cropped).jpg
|image_size=
|caption=Stewart with the Michigan Wolverines in 2024
|current_team= Los Angeles Rams
|number =
|position= Linebacker
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|2003|4|26}}
|birth_place=The Bronx, New York, U.S.
|height_ft =6
|height_in =1
|weight_lb=249
|high_school=
Everett {{nowrap|(Everett, Massachusetts)}}
|college = {{ubl|Coastal Carolina (2021–2022)|Michigan (2023–2024)}}
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 90
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Unsigned draft pick
|highlights=
- CFP national champion (2023)
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2024)
- Second-team All-Sun Belt (2022)
- First-team All-Sun Belt (2021)
- Freshman All-American (2021)
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Tackles
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = StewJo03
}}
Josaiah Stewart (born April 26, 2003) is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the Michigan Wolverines. Stewart was an all-conference selection in the Sun Belt and Big Ten, winning a national championship with Michigan in 2023. He was selected by the Rams in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life and high school
Stewart was born on April 26, 2003, the son of Carmen Diaz and Andre Stewart, in the Bronx, New York.{{Cite web |last=Brugler |first=Dane |title=The Beast: 2025 NFL Draft Guide |url=https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/04/09073220/2025-Beast-v02.pdf |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=The Athletic |pages=289}} He attended Everett High School in Everett, Massachusetts, where he played football and was teammates with Mike Sainristil, Isaiah Likely and Lewis Cine.
As a junior, Stewart recorded 30 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and a fumble recovery, while his senior season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stewart was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Coastal Carolina University.{{cite web |title=JOSAIAH STEWART DE/EDGE MICHIGAN |url=https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Josaiah-Stewart-LB-CoastalCarolina |website=nfldraftbuzz.com |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
College career
=Coastal Carolina=
==2021==
In 2021, Stewart set the single-game program sack record, with four sacks versus Georgia Southern.{{cite web |last1=Sayfie |first1=Clayton |title=Newsstand: Watch Michigan EDGE Josaiah Stewart record 4 sacks in the same game at Coastal Carolina |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/news/michigan-wolverines-football-edge-josaiah-stewart-with-4-sacks-in-a-game-at-coastal/ |website=On3.com |date=July 20, 2023 |access-date=November 5, 2023}} He finished his freshman season with 43 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles.{{cite web |title=Josaiah Stewart 2021 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/josaiah-stewart-1/gamelog/2021/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=November 5, 2023}} His 13 sacks set a single-season school record, breaking the previous record of 10.5 sacks held by Tarron Jackson.{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Danny |title=How Coastal Carolina freshman Josaiah Stewart broke Chants' single-season sack record |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/myrtle-beach/sports/how-coastal-carolina-freshman-josaiah-stewart-broke-chants-single-season-sack-record/article_c2e91734-53ad-11ec-a197-fbfbf04e8aec.html |website=Post and Courier |date=December 2, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2023}} For his performance on the year, Stewart was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference,{{cite web |title=Sun Belt Announces 2021 Football Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams |url=https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2021/12/2/sun-belt-announces-2021-football-postseason-awards-all-conference-teams.aspx |website=Sun Belt Conference |date=December 2, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2023}} and a first-team freshman All-American.{{cite web |title=CCU's Josaiah Stewart named to 2021 FWAA Freshman All-America Team |url=https://www.wmbfnews.com/2022/01/19/ccus-josaiah-stewart-named-2021-fwaa-freshman-all-america-team/ |website=WMBF News |date=January 19, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
==2022==
In 2022, Stewart recorded 36 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a forced fumble, earning second-team all-Sun Belt honors.{{cite web |last1=Garcia |first1=Tony |title=Michigan football's No. 1 transfer portal class adds Coastal Carolina LB Josaiah Stewart |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2022/12/18/michigan-football-transfer-portal-josaiah-stewart-coastal-carolina/69738700007/ |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=November 5, 2023}} After the season, Stewart entered the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Danny |title=Coastal Carolina's season sack leader enters transfer portal |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/myrtle-beach/sports/coastal-carolinas-season-sack-leader-enters-transfer-portal/article_cb4ed232-75a9-11ed-adc9-1ff00954f6f0.html |website=Post and Courier |date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2023}} Stewart finished his two-year career at Coastal Carolina with 79 tackles, 25.5 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks and four forced fumbles.{{cite web |last1=Chengilis |first1=Angelique |title=Michigan football adds Coastal Carolina edge rusher from transfer portal |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2022/12/18/michigan-wolverines-add-josaiah-stewart-from-transfer-portal/69738794007/ |website=The Detroit News |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
= Michigan =
File:UM vs. OSU (172).jpg in a 30-24 victory in 2023]]
==2023==
On December 18, 2022, Stewart transferred to the University of Michigan to continue his college career. On September 30, 2023, he recorded five tackles and two sacks in a win over Nebraska, earning Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.{{cite web |last1=Hellg |first1=Brock |title=Josaiah Stewart earns Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week award |url=https://michigan.rivals.com/news/josaiah-stewart-earns-big-ten-co-defensive-player-of-the-week-award |website=Rivals.com |date=October 2, 2023 |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
In 2023, Stewart appeared in all 15 games for the Wolverines, totaling 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and two pass breakups. He was second on Michigan’s national championship team in sacks, leading to an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/2023.html|title=Josaiah Stewart|website=Sports Reference-CFB}} {{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/josaiah-stewart/24428|title=Josaiah Stewart|website=University of Michigan}}
==2024==
Entering his senior season, Pro Football Focus listed Stewart as the No. 9 ranked edge rusher in college football prior to the 2024 season. {{cite web|url=https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-top-10-returning-edge-defenders-2024-season|title=College Football: Top 10 Returning Edge Defenders for the 2024 Season|website=Pro Football Focus}} He changed his jersey from No. 5 to No. 0 for his last year at Michigan.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/04/michigan-edge-josaiah-stewart-has-new-jersey-number-back-to-round-out-game.html|title=Michigan edge Josaiah Stewart has new jersey number, back to ‘round out game’|website=Mlive}} Despite transferring one year earlier, Stewart was voted as an alternate team captain for the 2024 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/08/michigan-footballs-4-captains-for-2024-aim-to-follow-blueprint-for-success.html?outputType=amp|title=Michigan football’s 4 captains for 2024 aim to follow blueprint for success|website=Mlive}}
In his first game of the 2024 season versus Fresno State, Stewart had team highs with five tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628452|title=Michigan v. Fresno State (2024)|website=ESPN}} In week 4 against the USC Trojans, he recorded four tackles, three for a loss, including two sacks and a forced fumble.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628489|title=Michigan v. USC (2024)|website=ESPN}} Following week 4, Stewart was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, as well as the Reese’s Senior Bowl National Defensive Player of the Week.{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/fb/article/bltc917f2dad5f7a2d5/|title=Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Washington Earn Weekly Football Honors|website=Big Ten}}{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/3-scouting-standouts-cfb-week-011536805.html|title=3 scouting standouts from CFB Week 4 to know|website=Yahoo Sports}} In week six versus Washington, he had four tackles, two for a loss, including a sack.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628505|title=Michigan v. Washington (2024)|website=ESPN}} Before week 8, Sherrone Moore elevated Stewart from an alternate captain, to a full fledged captain.
{{cite web |last1=Garcia |first1=Tony |title=Michigan football names 'Uncle' Jack Tuttle starting quarterback, adds 5th captain |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2024/10/15/michigan-football-jack-tuttle-starting-quarterback-josaiah-stewart-captain/75682910007/ |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=October 16, 2024}} In week 9 versus Michigan State, Stewart had three tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble as Michigan defeated the Spartans 24-17. It was his fourth consecutive game played in that he recorded a sack.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401628529/michigan-st-michigan|title=Michigan v. Michigan State (2024)|website=ESPN}} In week 13 versus Northwestern, Stewart had two sacks; his third game with multiple sacks in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401628557/northwestern-michigan|title=Michigan v. Northwestern (2024)|website=ESPN}}
Following the season, Stewart was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection.{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/fb/article/bltb8532d0a2076d22c/|title=Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Awards|website=Big Ten Conference|date=December 3, 2024}} He started 11 games as a senior, finishing with 33 tackles and led the team in each of the following: 13 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/josaiah-stewart-1.html|title=Josaiah Stewart|website=Sports Reference (CFB)}} In December 2024, Stewart formally declared for the 2025 NFL draft and opted out of his final bowl game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/12/practice-report-more-michigan-players-absent-ahead-of-reliaquest-bowl.html|title=Practice report: More Michigan players absent ahead of ReliaQuest Bowl|website=Mlive}} He finished his four-year college career with a combined 150 tackles, 48 tackles for a loss, 30 sacks and six forced fumbles.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1
| weight = 249
| arm span = 31 7/8
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josaiah-stewart/32005354-4577-2441-5080-41528845da37 |title=Josaiah Stewart Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 28, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1053691&DraftYear=2025 |title=Josaiah Stewart College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 28, 2025}}
}}
Stewart was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 90th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://goccusports.com/sports/football/roster/josaiah-stewart/17814 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers bio]
- [https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/josaiah-stewart/24428 Michigan Wolverines bio]
{{2023 Michigan Wolverines football navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Josaiah}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football players
Category:Michigan Wolverines football players
Category:Players of American football from Everett, Massachusetts