On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Miami closing gap for Shemar Stewart

Opa Locka (Fla.) Monsignor Pace defensive lineman Shemar Stewart has been considered a lean — and at times a heavy lean — to Texas A&M for months. The Aggies have more momentum than anyone on the recruiting trail right now, but Miami is looking to change that.

The Hurricanes hosted Stewart for a visit this past weekend, and they have continued to close the gap on Texas A&M, according to the Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Three weeks ago, the RPM gave the Aggies a 76.2 percent chance of landing Stewart, with Miami in second at 21.4 percent. Following his visit to Coral Gables and a recent in-home from a trio of Miami assistants, that has dropped to slightly below a 60/40 split in favor of Texas A&M.

Stewart has been a personal project for head coach Mario Cristobal, who called him almost immediately after taking the job at Miami last month to let him know how much he was wanted at Miami.

That persistence has only grown, and Stewart told On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons that the two spent plenty of time together this past weekend.

“The message was that we want you and we need you,” Shemar Stewart said. “He said I’m a key player to bring Miami back to where the program needs to be. … The atmosphere is just different. I was very happy being on campus and I have a good feeling about Miami.”

Whether that good feeling will translate into a commitment will be decided between now and February 2, when Stewart is expected to announce where he is headed. He will trip to Georgia, the other school in his top three, this weekend for a visit. And a return trip to Miami, this time for an official visit, is expected at the end of the month.