In a surprising development, Jahkeem Stewart, the top-ranked prospect in ESPN's Class of 2026, has officially withdrawn from St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, as confirmed by ESPN on Friday. This unexpected move has now opened the door for a possible mid-season transfer and a potential reclassification into the Class of 2025.

Standing at an impressive 6-foot-6 and weighing 275 pounds, the junior Stewart has expressed his intention to join a new program immediately. He is currently exploring options within and outside of Louisiana with the aim of enrolling as early as Monday. If successful, this decision could allow him to complete his high school career this fall and potentially join a college football team as early as January.

Reflecting on his time at St. Augustine, Stewart expressed gratitude, stating that the school had played a significant role in his personal growth. "St. Augustine helped me become a way better man than I was going in there -- it taught me a lot of things," said Stewart. "My plan is to find a school that I'm looking for to really just help with my decision -- a place that will better me and help make the decision I'm trying to make."

A highly coveted prospect on the defensive line, Stewart had already received offers from a multitude of power conference programs even before his freshman year at St. Augustine. His exceptional talents as a pass-rusher, whether coming off the edge or from the interior, quickly established him as a force to be reckoned with. Last fall, he accumulated an impressive 85 total tackles, including 33 tackles for loss, and recorded 20 sacks during his junior season.

Should Stewart decide to proceed with reclassification, he would instantaneously become ESPN's most sought-after uncommitted prospect in the Class of 2025. Earlier this year, he released a list of his top 15 schools, featuring prominent programs from the SEC, Big 10, as well as Miami, Florida State, and Colorado.

During the summer, Stewart embarked on visits to renowned football programs such as Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, Texas, and Auburn. Furthermore, he attended the highly anticipated neutral site opener between USC and LSU in Las Vegas during Week 1 of the college football season. However, Stewart has mentioned that he does not plan on making any college visits in the second week.

"We just want to chill this weekend, possibly find a school," Stewart shared. "I should be going to school somewhere Monday or Tuesday."

The race to secure the services of this exceptional talent is now well underway, as colleges across the nation eagerly await his decision. As Stewart stands poised to make an immediate impact at the collegiate level, football enthusiasts eagerly anticipate where this gifted defensive end will ultimately land and leave their mark.

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