Jim Nagy outlines Josaiah Stewart's expected role at Michigan in 2024
Michigan defensive lineman Josaiah Stewart earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in the 2023 campaign, racking up 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks for the Wolverines.
He decided to come back to Ann Arbor for the 2024 season in order to improve his stock for the 2025 NFL Draft. One man who constantly has eyes on hundreds of draft prospects across the country is Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy.
Recently on Andy Staples On3, Nagy outlined Josaiah Stewart’s expected role with the Wolverines and why he’s so important to Michigan’s success in 2024.
“Really important. And so is Derrick Moore. Those guys are really good players. And I was just up in Ann Arbor last week. So again, that’s why some of the Michigan stuff is on top of my mind. I was in the building talking to those guys. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant have gotten a lot of love. Right? They don’t need it from me. They’ve gotten a lot of love. They know the Senior Bowl likes them,” Nagy explained.
“But you lose two edge players like Braiden McGregor who’s having a great training camp so far with the Jets. And Jaylen Harrell, same thing, I mean, he had two sacks the other night for the Tennessee Titans against the Seahawks. Most college teams lose two edge guys like that, they’re in trouble. Now Michigan is gonna elevate Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart into those roles. And lookout.”
Stewart reminds Nagy the most of Josh Uche, a former Michigan linebacker who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Uche has racked up 18.5 total sacks so far in his NFL career. And his best year came in 2022, when he tallied 11.5 sacks.
“To me, Josaiah, digging into the tape. I’ve posted a couple of clips of this guy. Not the biggest guy in the world. He reminds me a little bit of Josh Uche, from a couple of years ago. Had double digit sacks two years ago for the New England Patriots. Josh had 11 [11.5] sacks. And they’re similar guys,” the Senior Bowl Executive Director explained.
“I remember Josaiah going back three years ago. Coastal Carolina came here to town to play South Alabama. And I was out there to see Isaiah Likely, their tight end. Who ended up playing in the Senior Bowl and has become a really good player for the Baltimore Ravens.
“And that Coastal staff pointed him out. They’re like, ‘You’re gonna be after this guy [Josaiah Stewart], you know, in two or three years,” Nagy continued. “He had 12.5 sacks that freshman year. As a true freshman, I don’t care if you’re playing Division III ball or in the Power Five. You get 12.5 sacks as a true freshman right out of high school. That’s big-time pass rush ability.”
Stewart flew under the radar nationally coming out of high school, earning a three-star ranking from the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2021 cycle. He played his high school football at Everett High School in Everett, Massachusetts. He was ranked as the No. 943 overall prospect in America, according to those same rankings. He was also tabbed as the No. 92 edge rusher in the country.
It didn’t take him long to make a splash for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Stewart shattered the CCU single-season sacks record with 12.5 sacks in his freshman year in 2021. The 12.5 sacks were just one sack away from the Sun Belt single-season record of 13.5 sacks. His 15.5 tackles for loss were the second most in a single season in Chanticleer program history.
“So, and now here we are. And now he is a senior. And he’s at Michigan. He’s not at Coastal anymore unfortunately for those guys. But he’s a big-time player. Guy had 5.5 sacks last year as a rotational piece at Michigan. So, to me, with more snaps this year in kind of a more prominent role, who knows, I think he and Derrick Moore could both scratch double digits sacks this year for that defense,” Nagy finished.
Stewart and the Wolverines will take to the field for their first game of the 2024 campaign, when they face off against Fresno State on August 31st. That one is slated for 7:30 PM EST and it will be nationally televised on ABC.