The 2024 college football season presents an entirely new landscape. Texas is in the SEC. SMU is back in a power conference as ACC members. The College Football Playoff now includes 12 teams and an automatic bid for the best G5 team in the land. For most, the start of the season is in Week 1 on August 30, though SMU starts in Week 0 and TCU plays its first game on Aug. 29. 

To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas as we inch closer to kickoffs. This list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best in terms of NFL draft stock. It ranks players in order of importance to their team's success. 

No. 36: TEXAS A&M DE SHEMAR STEWART

The history: Stewart arrived as a five-star prospect from the state of Florida in the 2022 recruiting class as the Aggies continued a run of landing the nation’s best defensive linemen. He played in all 12 games as a freshman in 20222 with six starts. He was named Top Newcomer at the annual team banquet following the season. Stewart played in all 13 games in 2023 as a sophomore with a start in the Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State. He was tied for second on the team with six hurries on the season. He was named Defensive Most Improved at the annual team banquet after the season. 

The skillset: The 6-6, 285-pound defensive end possesses All-SEC talent and could blossom into a high NFL draft pick with more consistency and a larger role. Stewart’s potential was on display in the Aggie spring game when he terrorized the quarterbacks and controlled the line of scrimmage against the run. Stewart is everything Mike Elko wants in a Wrecking Crew member – he’s big, athletic, tough. He’s also durable and experienced. 

The impact: Texas A&M needs its defense to set the pace if the Aggies hope to crash the SEC party and/or make a run at 10 wins and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Elko & Co. brought in transfers at edge such as Nic Scourton and Cashius Howell to help the Wrecking Crew create more pressure. Stewart is another piece that can help the Aggies boast one of the best defensive lines in the SEC. He’s an every-down defensive lineman with pass rush skills. Those guys are worth their weight in gold.