It was a big-time recruiting battle for five-star defensive line recruit Jahkeem Stewart from New Orleans, Louisiana, but he is, after all, a big-time recruit. So it made sense.
Hometown LSU was in the running, as was Oregon, Ohio State and USC. Ultimately, Stewart chose on the first day of the new signing period to go with Lincoln Riley and USC. To him, it’s about the chance to be part of something special at USC, which needs a turnaround.
“It’s opportunity. Coach Riley told me a word: transcendent. Be a trend setter and come over there and turn the program around. They have positive things with the program,” Stewart explained, via On3. “I believe this 2025 class will go in with our heads down and work hard and change things around and that’s what’s needed. Coach Riley he’s getting those main guys and the few people he’s missing to help change the program around. It’s going to be major and be big. There’s a lot of work to put in. I know Coach Riley is going to do his part. Coach Henny (Eric Henderson) and the staff are going to do their part. And it’s going to be a completely different team than last year.”
That’s the message of hope that Riley is pushing at USC, and Stewart is far from the only big-time recruit to buy into it. Riley’s 2025 class was ranked No. 13 overall on National Signing Day, with Stewart joining fellow five-star, quarterback Husan Longstreet, as the crown jewel signees.
According to the 247SPorts Composite, Stewart is the No. 3 defensive lineman in the 2025 class and the No. 16-ranked player overall.
