Portal Q/A: Corey Stewart
It is pretty simple: Corey Stewart transferred to Purdue to start. And the former Ball State product with two years of eligibility is poised to do so at left offensive tackle.
Stewart, who entered the portal on December 5th, was an offensive team captain in all 12 games for the Cardinals in 2023 while continuing a string of 28 consecutive starts. The Nashville native capped the 2023 season by earning first-team All-MAC honors.
A junior last season, Stewart was a lead blocker for a pair of 1,000-yard runners the past two seasons and was Ball State’s highest graded offensive lineman. Pro Football Focus graded him with a 98 percent pass block efficiency.
Stewart is one of four portal offensive linemen Purdue added in the offseason, joining Notre Dame’s Joey Tanona , Indiana’s Joshua Sales and New Mexico’s DJ Wingfield. Purdue also added Jaekwon Bouldin and Rod Green from the JC ranks, while signing four high school linemen.
Get to know Stewart in this Q&A transcribed from a Boilermaker Alliance video interview.
MORE: CJ Smith | CJ Madden | Reggie Love | Joshua Sales | Jamarius Dinkins | Jahmal Edrine | Nyland Green | Purdue transfer portal tracker
Q: What is your skill set?
A: My skill set is being a leader. On the field, I think my best attribute is pass blocking. I want to prove I can at this level and be a big-time player.
Q: You played at places like Georgia and Kentucky. Now, you’ll play vs. schools like Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State … how does that excite you?
A: It’s very exciting to see where I stack up against the best in the country. It is motivating for me.
Q: Why did you choose Purdue?
A: It felt like family when I got here. Everyone was very welcoming. It wasn’t all about football. It was about how you are gonna build and grow as a man here.
Q: What do you think of the facilities?
A: Way better than what I am used to. I am still adjusting to it. But it’s great.
Q: What did you know about Purdue before coming here?
A: I didn’t know much. I was just being where my feet were at, focusing on Ball State football. I didn’t know much.
Q: How did you end up at Ball State coming out of high school?
A: I was under recruited coming out of high school. I started playing football my junior year in high school. I had offers from Western Missouri, SEMO, Austin Peay and Alabama A&M. Ball State offered because they came to my practice looking for someone else and they stumbled upon me. That’s how I ended up there.
Q: You started out as basketball player, right?
A: Yes, until my junior year. I played basketball my whole life. My basketball coach wasn’t giving me a chance to play, he didn’t think I could move like the other players. So, I went to try something where I was wanted and could play and be a factor.
Q: Have you had a chance to show off your hoops skills?
A: Not yet. But I probably will. I am too heavy to dunk now.
Q: What do you want to prove, look forward to doing?
A: I want to see how we compete against other teams. The main goal is to get that national championship. I am striving to get there.
