Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
Size:
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 175 lbs
Accomplishments:
SEC All-Freshman Team (2022) • Under Armour All-American (2022) • Five-star recruit
“Evan Stewart is a skilled wide receiver prospect with the athletic ability to win on all three levels of the defense and become a consistent first-down weapon in the passing game.”
Strengths:
Plays bigger than his size
Quick and natural separator
Spatial awareness
Athletic ability (leaping, agility, and acceleration)
Release package
Concerns:
Thiny, wiry frame
Functional strength in the contact window
Easily re-routed by contact
Run-blocking enthusiasm
Film Analysis:
Evan Stewart has played for two different HC/OC combinations at Texas A&M. During his time there, Stewart mostly aligned as an outside wide receiver with a slight snap share in the slot. He is a three-level winner with route-running, speed, and agility. He is expected to be a constant fixture in the Oregon Ducks’ passing attack in 2024.
Stewart is a route-runner who wins with quick footwork and fluid hips to sink and drive out of the breakpoint. As a route-runner, Stewart changes directions and levels quickly to generate ample natural separation. His movements are sharp and deliberate at the top of his routes. He is a good salesman, selling the vertical routes to put the DB into distress and flip their hips to turn and run with him. In the SEC, he faced and defeated some of the best CBs in the country and first-round picks. Stewart uses quick/sudden jab steps and quick footwork at the line of scrimmage to displace his coverage defender early in the rep. He has a basketball-esque release package with inside-out maneuvers, hesitations, and jab steps.
Stewart possesses the spatial awareness and quick twitch needed to be a reliable run-after-catch receiver. He finds soft/vulnerable spots in the defense’s coverage scheme and feels for closing defenders. Stewart will use sudden spin moves to evade potential big hits and force missed tackles. He displays toughness, staying upright and keeping his legs driving forward for more yards. Stewart plays bigger than his listed frame. He will make acrobatic catches with full-arm-length extension for a high pass in the middle of the field. On the outside, Stewart displays strong body control to decelerate and make plays on back-shoulder throws.
My concerns with Stewart’s profile begin with his thin and wiry frame. Stewart lacks the desired body masses and functional strength to fight through physical press defenders. He struggles to disengage and counter their strikes in the contact window. Stewart is re-routed and thrown off his route path when contacted. Catch reliability needs improvement this season, Stewart has tough drops and hand mechanics on film. Keeping cleaning up and improving his drop percentage will bode well for his ability to connect with an NFL QB. Stewart is not an ideal candidate to throw contested, 50/50 passes to. He lacks the efficiency to be trusted there as a pass catcher. The limited height, weight, and frame create difficulty in succeeding on those targets.
Stewart projects as an alignment-versatile receiver who thrives on winning with quickness and attacking all levels of the defense. Like Jordan Addison, landing with an established WR1 will assist with his acclimation to the NFL. An offense that prioritizes pre-snap movement and quick, short passes to set up isolated deep shots is a good fit for Stewart's multi-faceted skill set.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
