Morgantown receiver Blaine Stewart officially sealed his fate on Wednesday to play college football on scholarship at James Madison next season. He was one of four Morgantown High products signing their letters of intent at the school.
“It’s definitely a dream come true and something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time and thinking about for a long time,” Stewart said. “Now that it’s finally here and I’m finally a part of James Madison, it’s a great feeling and I’m excited for the future.”
Stewart finished this past season with 41 catches for 612 yards and six touchdowns. He had other walk-on opportunities at Duke, Wake Forest, Ohio, William & Mary, Akron, and Richmond. It’s a decision to go with JMU that Stewart feels his dad, the late-Bill Stewart, would approve.
“I think he would be proud because it’s a great fit and it’s a place where I can go and excel, and it’s a family oriented university,” Stewart said. “It’s a great fit and I think he would be very happy and proud of my decision.”
“Coach Stew is looking down as a proud papa for everything that Blaine has been able to accomplish,” said Morgantown head coach John Bowers. “He’s a very deserving young man.”
At JMU, Stewart will play under long-time head coach Mickey Matthews who led the Dukes to the 2004 Division I-AA national championship.
“It’s definitely a dream come true and something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time and thinking about for a long time. Now that it’s finally here and I’m finally a part of James Madison, it’s a great feeling and I’m excited for the future.” – Morgantown’s Blaine Stewart
“He’s a good coach and also a great man of character. He’s one of those guys that I know will have my back in anything that I need,” Stewart said. “He’s a great fatherly figure and just a man who knows football and is concerned with us on and off the field – so, I’m excited.”
Also signing on Wednesday from Morgantown were running back/defensive back Shane Commodore and lineman Adam White who will both be a preferred walk-ons at WVU.
“Tyler Anderson started as a walk-on and he’s over there on scholarship now,” Bowers said. “We’ve had a lot of kids have a lot of success through the walk-on deal. The beautiful thing is that these kids are such good students that the Mountaineers are getting scholarship number 86 and 87, because of their academic standing.”
The final signee for Morgantown was linebacker Jalen Thomas who will play at Fairmont State.