UK BOUND: Alabama Christian star Stewart announces college plans
ACA’s Avery Stewart announced that he would sign with the University of Kentucky, picking the Wildcats over Auburn and Florida State. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Alabama Christian Academy senior Avery Stuart announced his college commitment at the conclusion of 7-on-7 workouts at the school on Wednesday. Much like Stuart, the announcement was brief, to the point and with little fanfare.
Quickly donning a Kentucky sweatshirt and a UK hat, he announced his commitment to the Wildcats over Auburn and Florida State, the top three choices among the 22 college offers weighed by the 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback that ranks No. 196 on the Rivals 250.
“Great programs,” Stuart said. “Much love to all the coaches at every program I had in the top three, but I felt Kentucky was just the place for me. I went there and connected with the players, coaches, all that. It’s like one big family down there.
“The players started contacting me before I even got there. That made it stand out more.”
Once considered an Auburn lean, Stuart simply let his recruitment play out, ultimately deciding on the program that he felt recruited him the best.
“I really didn’t know much about Kentucky until I went up there,” Stuart said. “Coach (Mark) Stoops kept calling my head coach, wanting me to get up there and I finally went. I fell in love the first time I went.
“I just prayed about it and talked it over with my family. I wanted to go into the season committed.”
Stuart will play safety for the Eagles this fall after breaking into the starting lineup in 2020 at cornerback. He was recruited by the Wildcats as a safety as well.
“I think he made a really good decision,” ACA coach Michael Summers said. “He could have made a good choice with all three of them. One thing about Kentucky is he’s been number one on their DB (recruiting) board since September. They’ve been really hard after him. One of the things we tell them is go where you’re wanted. If they want you, they’re going to invest in you.”
While Stuart’s hard work at football camps earned college offers, his work on the field earned respect from ACA coaches and teammates. He started his career as an offensive tackle, moving to rush end as a freshman because of his height and speed.
“We were looking at Rivals and seeing these Division I-A DBs, guys who have gotten offers, and we’re looking at their measurables, their heights and weights, their 40 times,” Summers said. “We’re like, ‘Avery look at this. Look at your height, look at your weight, look at your 40 time. You can do this.’”
By his sophomore year, Jalen Clark was the star of the team at quarterback, but needed rest from the defensive side of the ball. Stuart saw spot duty in the 2020 season opener as a substitute for Clark, then moved into the role as a starting cornerback by the second game.
“By the end of the year, he was probably our best cover man,” Summers said. “We go play Jacksonville (in the second round of the 4A playoffs) and he shuts down probably the best guy (receiver Omarion Adams) in Calhoun County. At the end of his sophomore year, you kind of saw him flip a switch. Avery made a decision. He went out and earned it.”
Stuart narrowed his choices during the recruiting process, with Auburn secondary coach Zac Etheridge making an impact early. Later on, recruiting pitches by Florida State defensive passing game coordinator Marcus Woodson and Kentucky safeties coach Frank Buffano were impactful as well.
“(Florida State) made a really, really hard push for him,” Summers said. “When it got down to it, (the deciding factors were) SEC and the stability at Kentucky.
“Besides Alabama and Georgia, they’re about the most stable program in the SEC. Their facilities, besides Georgia and Alabama, are as good as any I’ve seen.”
Stuart was just thankful to have the recruiting process behind him as he turned his focus to the 2022 season.
“I think it’ll be good,” he said. “I’ve got time to just concentrate on football. The only school I’ll be visiting is Kentucky. I’m feeling good.”