Visit report: Donald Stewart

Stanford hosted one of its top uncommitted 2016 targets last weekend when three-star New Jersey wide received Donald Stewart took his third trip to The Farm.

Stewart previously visited Stanford last spring for a Junior Day and over summer to participate in the program's camp.

"It was great," Stewart said. "I got a chance to sit down with all of the coaches, mainly Coach Pritchard, Coach Shaw and Coach Hansen. I had met Kaden (Smith) before and I flew up with Clark (Yarbrough) and I got a chance to meet Bailey McElwain and Beau Bisharat. It was a great weekend."

Not only did Stewart become acquainted with some of his potential future Cardinal football teammates, he also met several athletes who will be playing other sports on The Farm. That was among his favorite parts of the visit.

"I think one of my favorite parts of the trip was before the game," Stewart said. "Usually when I go on a recruiting visit for the game, it's just the football recruits and their parents and they all hang out together before the game. But this trip was different because we all sat down and then next thing you know the baseball kids come in, the soccer girls, the volleyball girls. We got a chance not just to interact with just the football team, but also the other sports that were on the campus as well."

A number of Stanford coaches made it known to Stewart that they would like him to become a permanent member of the Cardinal athletic community during the visit.

"They told me that they liked that I had a really strong senior season," Stewart said. "They want me to work hard in the offseason, get stronger, get faster, so I can hopefully make an impact next year. They also told me that if I do come there they would like to put me in the slot, put me on the outside and just move me around a little bit."

Stewart already knew several of the Stanford commits who were also on campus over the weekend - he met some on previous visits and chatted with many in a group text message - and the visit provided an opportunity for additional interaction.

"I've known Clark for about half a year almost to a year - we've always been close," Stewart said. "But just meeting Kaden one more time, talking to Beau, talking to Bailey, we all had a really good relationship because we talk every day in this group chat. I think this class is really, really coming along and there's going to be a nice turnout in this class."

In addition to the football commits and recruits from other sports, Stewart spent time with some current Cardinal players. Stewart was hosted on the trip by J.J. Arcega-Whiteside was his visit host and chatted with Keller Chryst, Barry Sanders, Christian McCaffrey, Ronnie Harris and Brandon Simmons, among others.

Stewart was well aware of Stanford's academic and athletic reputation heading into this trip. The people Stewart encountered on The Farm made a significant impression.

"I know that it has world-class academics and it ha big-time athletics," Stewart said. "But the people that I was surrounded by on the visit were all-around people like myself - from the coaches to the players to the parents, everyone was well rounded and I really enjoyed myself and meeting kids from all over the country. I met a girl who played soccer in Texas. I met a kid who played baseball in Washington. It was just a great experience and opened my eyes to see what the future holds if you do graduate from Stanford."

Stewart will officially visit Auburn this weekend. He'll return to The Farm in mid-January for the Cardinal's big recruiting weekend. Vanderbilt, Boston College, Wake Forest, Ole Miss and Michigan are among the other programs involved in his recruitment which could receive visits.

"I'm still trying to figure everything out because I want to see all of my schools before I make my decision," Stewart said. "I've been to Stanford numerous times but I haven't been to Ole Miss yet, same with Boston College and Vanderbilt. I want to make sure I hit those schools before I throw all of my eggs in one basket."

Stewart is currently navigating Stanford's admissions process.

"I'm probably going to take (the SAT) again in December but I'm not so sure about it," Stewart said. "Me and my dad are still talking about it."

The Paramus Catholic High School standout added that he'd likely wait to start the application until getting more clarity about his test score.

Future is bright in Palo Alto! Can't wait to be out here with these guys 🌲🌲 #CardClass16 pic.twitter.com/UflM4c1z2b— Clark Yarbrough (@ClarkYarbrough) November 22, 2015