High School Sports Awards: Florida football standout Shemar Stewart is anchored by humility, even when being recruited by top schools

Florida high school football phenom Shemar Stewart stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs in at 275 pounds and is a highly recruited college prospect. But those who know the Monsignor Pace High School student best maintain humility is the trait that makes the most lasting impression. 

"His humble spirit is what attracts people to him," his coach, Anthony Walker, said. "The students look up to him and he's just a great kid all the way around. He works hard in the classroom and the faculty and staff here love him."

Stewart, a defensive end listed at No. 12 among the USA TODAY High School Sports Top 100 2022 Football Recruits, said his introduction to the sport began after a conversation about his extracurricular activities. 

"One day back in fourth grade my substitute teacher saw me and asked if I played any sports," Stewart recalled. "When I let him know I did not, he shared with me I was too big not to play sports, so he got me to try out for football and that was that. I don't think I've really done anything special yet. When things happen for me, I don't expect to change."

Through nine games Stewart has recorded 75 tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He noted football provides a different type of rush because the mental approach is equally important as the physical element. 

"If you don't go into the week preparing your mind and focusing on your job, you're not going to get your job done on Friday nights," Stewart said. "I watch film, take notes and go through the playbook. It's all about preparation."

Walker said Stewart has joined his teammates in embracing the varied life lessons garnered from competing in athletics.

"In life, you're going to have some adversity," Walker said. "It's all about how you handle it and deal with it. It's the same with football. You've got a game, it's fourth and two and you're down 14 (points). How are you going to respond? That's where hard work and fighting through difficult situations come together. He really gets that and leads by example."

When the opportunity presents itself, Stewart, who lists Ohio State University, Clemson University, Texas A&M University, the University of Miami and the University of Georgia as potential landing spots on the collegiate level, said he enjoys watching the play of Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt and Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell. 

As he begins to wrap up his time as a Spartan, Stewart offered the following advice to Monsignor Pace High School underclassmen:

"Life is not always going to be easy," he said. "You have to face tough situations and have heart. Listen to your teachers and coaches, gain knowledge and take advantage of opportunities to improve, because nothing is promised."