Shemar Stewart

Cincinnati's first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in this year's draft brings eye-popping athleticism to the defensive line room ... Stewart was one of two players in the 2025 draft class to produce a perfect 10.0 on the Relative Athletic Score, which grades a player's measurements compared to their peer group ... His 40-inch vertical jump was fourth-highest among all players at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, and he clocked a 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds ... Played in 37 games with 19 starts across three seasons (2022-24) at Texas A&M University ... He earned third-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2024, when he led Texas A&M with 39 pressures and seven QB hurries ... Also posted a Pro Football Focus run-defense grade of 88.2 last season, the fifth-highest among all edge defenders in the FBS ... Career totals included 65 tackles, 11 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups, one FF and two FRs (one returned for a TD).

Cincinnati's first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in this year's draft brings eye-popping athleticism to the defensive line room ... Stewart was one of two players in the 2025 draft class to produce a perfect 10.0 on the Relative Athletic Score, which grades a player's measurements compared to their peer group ... His 40-inch vertical jump was fourth-highest among all players at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, and he clocked a 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds ... Played in 37 games with 19 starts across three seasons (2022-24) at Texas A&M University ... He earned third-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2024, when he led Texas A&M with 39 pressures and seven QB hurries ... Also posted a Pro Football Focus run-defense grade of 88.2 last season, the fifth-highest among all edge defenders in the FBS ... Career totals included 65 tackles, 11 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups, one FF and two FRs (one returned for a TD).

Career transactions:

Selected by Cincinnati in first round of NFL Draft (17th overall) on 4-24-25 ... Signed with Bengals on 7-26-25.

Head coach Zac Taylor says:

"He's a tremendous athlete. You've got to be aware of him. The quarterback has got to be aware of him, play caller has got to be aware of him and tackle has got to do a great job defending against him. We're excited about what he can bring to the table."

College highlights:

Spent three seasons (2022-24) at Texas A&M ... Played in 37 games with 19 starts.

2024—Selected third-team All-SEC ... Started all 12 games ... Recorded 31 tackles (14 solos), with 5.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks ... Also had two PBUs and one FF ... Led team with seven QB hurries ... Logged five tackles and credited with half-sack that led to seven-yard loss on Sept. 14 at Florida ... Forced loss of nine yards on first full sack of season on Sept. 21 vs. Bowling Green ... Posted five tackles with a TFL on Nov. 2 at South Carolina.

2023—Played in all 13 games with one start ... Registered 11 tackles with two TFLs and 1.5 sacks ... Added two PBUs and one FR (returned for TD) ... Recorded a sack for loss of four yards on Sept. 9 at Miami (Fla.) ... Recovered a fumble and returned it 43 yards for first career TD on Nov. 11 vs. Mississippi State ... Made lone start of season in Texas Bowl on Dec. 27 vs. Oklahoma State.

2022—Named to SEC All-Freshman Team ... Played in all 12 games with six starts as a true freshman ... Totaled 23 tackles (11 solos), with 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks, and had one FR ... Credited with half-sack in career debut Sept. 3 vs. Sam Houston ... Notched first career full sack for loss of five yards Sept. 24 vs. Arkansas ... Logged two solo tackles and recovered a fumble Oct. 8 at Alabama ... Had two solo tackles with a TFL for one-yard loss on Nov. 5 vs. Florida.

High school:

Attended Monsignor Pace High School in Miami Gardens, Fla. ... Selected as an Under Armour All-American in senior season ... As a sophomore in 2019, he totaled 48 tackles with 15 sacks to help lead team to Florida 4A regional quarterfinals ... Also played basketball.

Personal:

Hometown is Miami, Fla. ... Majored in agricultural leadership and development at Texas A&M.

Last Updated July 2025