Texas A&M football: 3 way-too-early breakout candidates for 2023

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Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) shows off his gold grill smile after the Aggies defeat the LSU Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

I’m really high on Shemar Stewart heading into the season and I think it’s because he has all the potential in the world and showcased that in limited action last year.

Now that he’ll likely be a starter on the defensive line next season, I think he’s going to end up being one of the best defensive linemen in the entire country, not just the SEC. He was a five-star recruit for a reason and with a massive opportunity staring him in the face, the sophomore is going to step up and become a superstar on defense.

In 2022, Stewart finished with 23 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 12 games. He showed the ability to get into the backfield with ease and he should draw more attention in 2023 and beyond when he proves that he can be a star.

What kind of defensive lineman will we see in 2023? The 6-4, 285-pounder will have length, strength, athleticism, and plenty of size to dominate on the edge.

I could see him putting up 50-plus tackles, 10-15 tackles for loss, and somewhere around 10 sacks.