Stewart’s senior season of high school was cancelled due to covid-19. As a junior, he recorded 30 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and a fumble recovery. Stewart was rated as a three star prospect, and committed to play college football at Coastal Carolina University.[1]
College career
Coastal Carolina
In 2021, Stewart set the single game program sack record with four sacks, versus Georgia Southern.[2] Stewart finished his true freshman season with 43 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, and three forced fumbles.[3] His 13 sacks set a single season school record for sacks, breaking the previous record of 10.5 sacks, held by Tarron Jackson.[4] For his performance on the year, Stewart was named First-team All-Sun Belt,[5] and named a First-team Freshman All-American.[6][7]
During the 2022 season, Stewart finished the year with 36 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a forced fumble.[8] He was named Second-team All-Sun Belt.[9] After the conclusion of the 2022 season, Stewart entered the NCAA transfer portal.[10][11]
Stewart finished his two year career at Coastal Carolina with 79 tackles, 25.5 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks, and four forced fumbles.[12]
Michigan
Stewart (#5) tackling Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson in a 30-24 victory in 2023.
On December 18, 2022 Stewart transferred to the University of Michigan to continue his college career.[13][14] On September 30, 2023, Stewart recorded five tackles and two sacks as he helped the Wolverines defeat Nebraska. For his performance, Stewart was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week.[15][16]
In 2023, Josiah Stewart appeared in all 15 games for the Wolverines, totaling 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and 2 batted balls. He was second on Michigan’s national championship team in sacks, leading to an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection. [17][18]
Entering his senior season, Pro Football Focus listed Stewart as the #9 ranked edge rusher in college football prior to the 2024 season.[19] He changed his jersey from No. 5 to No. 0 for his last year at Michigan.[20]