Behind the Scenes: Why Blake Stewart is a Bulldog
When Blake Stewart decommitted from Clemson on Oct. 27, Georgia was one of the first schools to contact him.
It didn’t take long for the in-state program to earn his pledge, as he decided to be a Bulldog a little over a month later.
“It feels like a relief, really, and it’s only up from here,” Stewart told UGASports after he put pen to paper on Signing Day. “But, starting out from here, really move on to my next dream and accomplish that.”
The three-star prospect had several conversations with Georgia head coach Kirby Smart throughout the week.
“I called Coach Smart two days ago to let him know,” Stewart said. “We were just talking. We had a long meeting the day before, just talking on the phone. So, I just slept on it, then woke up and wanted to be a Dawg.”
Smart believed in Stewart, and the former Bulldog-turned-head-coach was a big part of why Stewart signed with Georgia. Stewart knows how well Smart develops players at his position and puts them into the NFL.
“Georgia. I’ve seen that the best opportunity to get high-level coaching, get developed, and just be a better man on and off the field is here,” Stewart said. “(Coach Smart) has just believed in me, knowing that I can come in and make an impact from the get-go. So, he definitely has faith in me to come in and play.”
Relationships matter
Stewart, the No. 48 player in the Peach State per the Rivals Industry Rankings, had considered the Bulldogs before committing to the Tigers. They were one of his first Power 4 offers in the spring of his junior year.
Stewart had also made the short drive from the metro Atlanta area to Athens several times throughout his recruitment. He built tight-knit relationships with Georgia staff members, including Smart, safeties, and co-defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson, as well as assistants Prather Hudson and Andrew Thacker.
According to Stewart, Georgia’s staff challenged him to tweak some things in his game before his senior season.
Stewart appreciated their honesty and got to work.
“I was taking them seriously,” Stewart acknowledged. ” … They came in, watched my mid-year (senior film), and they said I improved a lot in tackling and just a lot of things. They definitely see me as a better player.”
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound defensive back finished his senior campaign with the team’s second-best 65 tackles, with 48 being solo, four tackles for loss, three interceptions, a fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles.
Stewart knows he has to keep improving his game if he wants to see the field at Georgia, but he mentioned that it helps playing for a head coach who played his position at the very same school.
“Oh, yeah, it definitely does,” Stewart said. “He knows everything about it, helps you with little things that go on, so he can definitely help you out.”
Bolden plays a factor
Georgia safety KJ Bolden also made a plea on social media for Stewart to join him in Athens next season.
With Bolden also being from the metro Atlanta area, Stewart grew up watching Bolden play at Buford. He admitted that the two had conversations about Bolden’s experience at Georgia and what it’s like playing for Smart.
“I just asked him how it was,” Stewart said. “He said he loved it, he’s got to work, be willing to work really to earn everything, and that’s definitely something I want to do.”
Stewart wants to make an immediate impact, knowing he can follow Bolden’s path. Smart also told him that next season is the ideal time to “play right away.”
“It’s really a perfect time to just come in as a safety,” Stewart said. “They’re a young team as well, especially in that position, with a lot of people leaving. … (Seeing KJ play as a freshman), it definitely does (help) because it shows that I can come in and play as a freshman.”
Stewart also revealed his goals for his freshman season.
“I definitely want to be a freshman All-American, just being able to play, develop, and just be a better man as well,” he said.