Skip to main content
Join Now
Get a profile. Be recruited.

Illinois flips 2026 EDGE Jaylen Stewart from Oklahoma State

hunterby: Hunter Shelton06/15/25HunterShelton_
NCAA Football: Citrus Bowl-South Carolina at Illinois
Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; A Illinois Fighting Illini helmet sitting on confetti after the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

Pearland (Texas) three-star EDGE Jaylen Stewart has flipped his commitment from Oklahoma State to Illinois, he announced on Sunday.

Pledged to the Cowboys since February, Stewart is now in the mix for the Illini following an official visit to Champaign.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder is the No. 521 overall prospect and No. 52 EDGE in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 72 player in Texas.

In 12 games as a junior last season, Stewart had 52 total tackles and six sacks, according to MaxPreps. Pearland finished the year as the No. 81 team in the state, per the On3 Composite Rankings.

Stewart is the second Texan to commit to Illinois this cycle, joining Denton Guyer three-star linebacker Kaedyn Cobbs. The Illini’s class ranks No. 26 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

More on Illinois Recruiting this cycle

Head coach Bret Bielema and the Illini have now added three commitments this month. On June 9, Downers Grove (Ill.) North three-star tight end Will Vala joined the class. One day later, Omaha (Neb.) Millard South three-star running back Nelsyn Wheeler did the same.

Seven in-state commits are in the class, headlined by Chicago Morgan Park four-star wide receiver Nasir Rankin. The 5-foot-11.5 pass-catcher is the No. 195 recruit and No. 30 WR in the nation. He pledged on May 21 and also plans to play basketball in Champaign.

“Man it’s just ever since I went down there they treated me like I was already at the school,” Rankin told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “It was crazy. I knew it was home … It was my first offer. They were the first people to take a chance on me and they never stopped believing in me … It was perfect.”

Rankin is one of three blue-chippers in the class. West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West four-star athlete Cam Thomas committed in February. Tampa Bay Tech On300 running back Javari Barnett joined in April and is On3’s No. 26 RB this cycle.

Other top commits in the class include: Olney (Ill.) Richland County three-star offensive tackle Casey Thomann, Jacksonville Raines three-star linebacker Tony Williams, Orlando Bishop Moore Catholic three-star WR Kenyon Alston, Omaha (Neb.) Millard South three-star interior offensive lineman Landen Von Seggern and Chicago Brother Rice three-star defensive lineman King Liggins.