EARLY NSD: Stuart signs with Kentucky; Carver duo chose tide
ACA’s Avery Stuart signed with the University of Kentucky during a ceremony on Wednesday. (Tim Gayle)
STAFF REPORT
Avery Stuart woke up on Wednesday morning feeling a little blue. And that was a good thing.
The Alabama Christian Academy senior signed with the University of Kentucky on Wednesday morning, then held a ceremony for friends and family at the school in the afternoon to celebrate the decision to sign with the Big Blue Nation.
Stuart held a similar ceremony in early July when he announced his commitment to the Wildcats, but this gathering had a different feel, he admitted.
“It’s a different feeling because it’s actually official now,” Stuart said. “I woke up and got a call from (safeties) coach (Frank) Buffano and I signed this morning. Then I came here and signed in front of the people who helped me get there.”
Stuart -- and several of his future secondary teammates -- were a vital piece of the recruiting puzzle for Kentucky this year and filled the biggest need for a team that backed away from going all in on high school recruits and strayed a little into the portal for immediate needs.
Among the 17 high school signees on Wednesday were defensive backs Jaremiah Anglin and Nasir Addison; Stuart, one of four consensus four-star products; and local standout Ty Bryant of Lexington.
Among the six portal additions were former Ohio State secondary player Jantzen Dunn and former Cincinnati cornerback JQ Hardaway.
“I’ve gotten to know a couple of them,” Stuart said. “We had a few surprise signees today so I’m getting ready to meet them and talk to them.”
Stuart probably had a better season in 2022 on offense as a wide receiver than he did in the secondary on a defense that was porous at times, but ACA coach Michael Summers said he was proud of Stuart, who was selected as a team captain for the Eagles this season.
“I always thought you could tell what a person is and who they truly are by how they treat people from whom they have nothing to gain,” Summers said. “When he gets around the people who, honestly, he has nothing to gain from, he treats them like they’re the most important person in the world. A lot of people see Avery Stuart the football player. He’s a great football player. The person is an even better person.”
Stuart, who is projected as a safety for the Wildcats, will enroll in school in June, completing a three-year process by Mark Stoops’ staff to land the ACA standout.
“Ever since they offered me, they stayed consistent and they continually pursued me through my recruiting journey and that’s what made me pick them,” Stuart said.
Carver’s Russaw, Smith choose Bama
After all the speculation and predictions, Qua Russaw and James Smith chose to stay close to home and signed with Nick Saban and the University of Alabama during a nationally-televised announcement.
The two stuck to their word and will stay together as teammates, something they stated continuously during the recruiting process.
Russaw is rated the No. 22 prospect and Smith the No. 18 overall prospect by 247Sports.
“It’s a chance to be great,” Russaw said in an interview with ESPN. “After a visit (from Saban), it just felt right.”
Smith recognized the ongoing avenue of Tide players to the NFL. In 2022 alone, 70 former players have suited up in the league at one time or another.
“I was thinking about the chance to go to the NFL,” he said. “To work hard… play as a freshman, those are the goals.”
Both had told River Region Sports back in the summer of the chance that neither might sign in the early period. their choice was kept close to the vest until Wednesday’s announcement.