Jimbo Fisher on Shemar Stewart's Miami homecoming: 'Don't let it be a distraction'
Jimbo Fisher knows that No. 23 Texas A&M’s Week 2 contest at Miami will be particularly personal for Shemar Stewart.
However, he wants the talented defensive lineman from Miami-Dade County to maintain his focus leading up to kickoff.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Stewart recently revealed that he was shunned in Miami after turning down the Hurricanes in favor of the Aggies as the No. 1 player from Florida in the Class of 2022. Now, Stewart is employing a business-like approach to the road game.
“I always wanted to go there. When I was first getting recruited, I wanted to go there,” Stewart said. “I had to choose a different route in the end. I still have a good amount of friends on that team, but come Saturday, we ain’t friends anymore.”
This reiterates Fisher’s feelings about when players return home for a road game.
“It’s great to go back, but don’t let it be a distraction. As crazy as that sounds, you’ve got to guard against that a little bit, because everybody wants to come see them, and they want to see them, I get all that,” Fisher said. “Just got to make sure you keep the main thing the main thing and make sure you’re ready for the game and manage your family and handle your business.”
Fisher raves about the abilities of the 19-year-old who finished with 5 tackles and a quarterback hurry in last season’s victory vs. Miami in College Station.
“I think one, he has outstanding size, athleticism, and all the attributes, but I think learning how to play football, learning to put his eyes in the right place, create leverage, better technique,” Fisher said. “He’s very physical, he’s very smart, he learns very well. He’s very driven, focused, tremendous kid and just the consistency in which he does the little things, which is allowing his athleticism to even grow.”
Fisher sees plenty of potential for the imposing defender.
“You saw when he burst, and unfortunately he got the guy’s facemask, but you saw a big guy that can run and change direction and his eyes are really good, he’s got a chance to be a heck of a football player,” Fisher said.