Football’s No. 1 Player of 2026 Jakeem Stewart Moves

ESPN confirmed Friday afternoon that standout defensive lineman Jakeem Stewart, the world’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026, is no longer enrolled at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, opening the door to a massive transfer during the offseason and a potential reclassification in the Class of 2025.

Stewart, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound high school senior, confirmed his departure from St. Augustine, telling ESPN he plans to join a new program immediately, considering schools inside and outside of Louisiana with hopes of enrolling as soon as Monday. The decision comes as Stewart considers reclassifying to the Class of 2025, which would open up the possibility of completing his high school career this fall and hitting a college campus as early as January.

“St. Augustine has helped me become a much better person than I was when I went there. It has taught me a lot of things,” Stewart said. “My plan is to find a school that I am looking for that will really help me make my decision, a place that will make me better and help me make the decision that I am trying to make.”

A standout talent on the defensive line, Stewart had offers from a slate of powerhouse conference programs even before his freshman season at St. Augustine, where he emerged as a force on the edge and inside pass pressure. Stewart finished with 85 total tackles (33 for loss) and 20 sacks in his third season last fall and played in the season opener last Friday.

If Stewart decides to reclassify this fall, he would instantly become ESPN’s top uncommitted player in the 2025 cycle. Stewart released his top 15 schools earlier this year in a list filled with SEC and Big 10 programs along with Miami, Florida State and Colorado.

Stewart’s summer itinerary included trips to Ohio State, Louisiana State, Oregon, Texas and Auburn, and he was in Las Vegas the first week for the USC-Louisiana State home opener. Stewart doesn’t plan to visit any campuses the second week.

“We just want to relax this weekend, and maybe find school,” he said. “I have to go to school somewhere on Monday or Tuesday.”