RB likes Cocks, Heels, Wolfpack

Junior to Watch: Marques Stewart

School: Mauldin, S.C.

Position: All-Purpose Back

Size and speed: Stewart is 5-foot-7, weighs 185 pounds, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. He bench-presses 335 pounds and squats 425.

Statistics: As a junior, he carried the ball 210 times for 1,630 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Honors: Was selected all-region and all-county as a junior.

Favorite Schools: South Carolina, North Carolina, N.C. State, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech.

Skinny: Marques Stewart has dealt with people doubting his ability since he started playing football. Since he measures in at only 5-foot-7, many make the mistake of underestimating one of the Palmetto State’s most talented runners.

“I take a lot of pride in what I’ve done,” said Stewart, who rushed for more than 1,600 yards and helped lead the Mavericks to the state semifinals as a junior. “People tend to overlook me sometimes, but that just makes me work all that harder. I look at it as if nobody can stop me. Whether I have to run over you or make you miss, I’m going to get my yards.”

Compact and powerfully built, Stewart boasts a 335-pound bench press and squats 425. That kind of strength may earn him an opportunity to play major college football.

“I’ve been receiving a lot of interest from South Carolina, North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Nebraska, Georgia Tech and a few others,” Stewart said. “I’m hoping to go to a couple of camps – South Carolina or Clemson and maybe Tennessee or Georgia Tech – and show people what I can do.”

Stewart said he has three favorites early in the process: South Carolina, N.C. State and North Carolina.

“With South Carolina, it’s mostly because of location and that’s who I grew up watching,” he said. “I like coach (Lou) Holtz and the way he coaches his teams, too. He seems like he’d be good to play for.

“With North Carolina, I like the campus and the atmosphere they have up there. Same with N.C. State, plus I like the fact that they’ve shown me so much interest and said they don’t mind playing a short running back. They don’t hold my size against me.”