Brad Stewart, who got a regular scholarship offer from Georgia Tech earlier on Tuesday, committed to the Yellow Jackets by the end of the day.
The 6-foot-1 receiver was the Class AA Player of the Year after leading Savannah’s Benedictine Military high school to its first-ever state championship.
“The No. 1 reason he picked Georgia Tech was academics, and No. 2 was the athletic program,” his father told the AJC.
“When we visited this past weekend, it was an amazing experience. It’s a world-class education and an outstanding football program. We really liked the coaches. They’re really great and genuine people.”
Stewart also had offers from Georgia Southern, Yale, Appalachian State, Furman and Mercer. He also generated late interest from UCF, Cincinnati, Syracuse and South Carolina, among others.
Georgia Tech was so high on Stewart after watching his film during the playoffs that Paul Johnson flew to Savannah for a face-to-face meeting last month, even though the Yellow Jackets didn’t have a scholarship to offer at that time. However, Johnson extended a grayshirt offer, meaning Stewart could sign this Wednesday but have to delay his enrollment until next January.
Johnson also promised a regular scholarship offer when the first one became available – which is apparently what happened on Tuesday.
“Coach Johnson is a stand-up guy,” Stewart’s father said. “Anything he tells anybody in recruiting, you can take it to the bank. I’ve heard that from anybody who has ever had any dealings with him. He’s just that type of gentlemen, and that type of coach. If he tells you something, he is true to his word.”
Stewart was arguably the best out of 40+ major-college prospects during state championship week at the Georgia Dome. In the Class AA finals, Stewart leaped over a defensive back (committed to Tennessee) to make a circus catch for touchdown reception that has been dubbed "The Catch." Stewart had a monster senior season, with 68 catches for 1,394 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also intercepting eight passes.
Stewart gets praised for his cerebral play and academics (4.24 GPA and 28 ACT), but unfortunately it overshadows his spectacular athleticism — including a 38-inch vertical, 4.52 speed in the 40, his ball-hawking skills, his ability to time his jump to peak when the ball arrives, and his uncanny ability to simply make plays. He has the “it factor” and he proves it repeatedly against the top competition.
WR/DB Brad Stewart (AJC)
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