Family, health and draft grade factored into Tide WR ArDarius Stewart's decision to go pro
The last contribution ArDarius Stewart made as an Alabama receiver was a 24-yard pass hethrewMonday in the Crimson Tide's 35-31 loss Monday to Clemson in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Reflecting on that, he laughed.
"It is kind of weird," he said.
In wake of the devastating defeat, Stewart could smile because he's excited about his future and the prospects of opening the next chapter in his life. On Friday, he declared he was going to forgo his remaining eligibility at Alabama to enter the NFL draft. Stewart said he received a second-round grade from the NFL College Advisory Committee and conferred with his parents before making the decision.
"I was trying to do what was best for me," the junior from Fultondale said.
But it wasn't easy. The emotional fallout from the loss to Clemson weighed on Stewart. And for a brief period, he said he contemplated sticking around Tuscaloosa for another season.
"It got me thinking about coming back and getting back into it," Stewart explained. "But at the same time there is a lot of wear and tear going on in these seasons and you never know what could happen so I am going to go ahead when I'm healthy."
It makes sense. Stewart is a father of two young children. And this season, he led Alabama in receiving yards and touchdowns despite missing three games. In addition to being a productive wideout, Stewart blocked well on the perimeter and was a physical force at a position usually occupied by players not willing to the dirty work he embraced.
Stewart, who finishes his college career with 129 catches, 1,713 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, believes he will excel at the next level because of what he learned at Alabama -- a program he described as "mini NFL team."
"Guys that have first round grades and in some cases, second round grades, we welcome the fact that they make the business decision to go out for the draft," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "It's something that we're proud of, with the number of players that we have in the NFL as well as the number of players who have been very, very successful in their decisions to go on and have a career at the next level.
Making his pitch to franchises who will be in position to draft him, Stewart said, "They're going to get a lot. They going to get the same thing that they saw out here."
Which, in other words, is a lot of catches and the occasional thrown pass.
"I just have faith and confidence in myself," Stewart said. "I'll see how it goes."
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