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Recruiting Wrap

ISU, SIU like Denzel Stewart

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 1:08 PM

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Champaign Central's Denzel Stewart leads the News-Gazette circulation area with 150 carries through six games, so his 30 carries in Friday night's narrow 21-19 victory over Mattoon weren't too burdensome.

"You really don't notice you're getting the ball that many times during the game," said Stewart, who gained 97 yards on Friday. "I'm just doing what I need to do to help the team win. If it takes me carrying the ball 30 or 40 times I'll do it."

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound back has racked up 738 rushing yards and four touchdowns so far this season, about half the yardage he accounted for last season (1,555 yards). Teams have keyed on Stewart this season, limiting running room. But Central (4-2) is just one game away from likely clinching its third-straight playoffs appearance.

"It's not the season I was hoping for, not as good as the season I had last year," Stewart said. "But I'm still having a good season because we're winning. I don't really care about my stats or things like that. I just worry about the team and winning.

"We trying to get (to the playoffs) for the third-straight year. We just got to keep on working hard. Hopefully we have a better record than 5-4 so we don't have to go against a team like Metamora again. But we're just doing what we got to do to extend the season."

Central's all-time leading rusher continues to receive interest from college programs. He received an offer from Illinois State during the summer, and Southern Illinois has also shown major interest.

"I haven't really been talking to any coaches right now because they're doing what they're doing and I'm focused on the team," Stewart said. "I talk to SIU and Illinois State. Last time I talked to the (SIU) coach, he just told me to continue to have a great season. They were trying to get me to come to one of their games but I don't know about that right now. I don't have any plans as of right now, but most likely I'll take all my visits after the football season."

Stewart has also been playing with an ankle sprain since a week four loss to Bloomington. Stewart said the ankle is "getting better" and that he hopes he'll back to full strength Friday. The Maroons will likely need him to carry the offense as they take on Big 12 Conference leader Danville (6-0).

"We got to stay passionate if we want to get a win," Stewart said. "Danville's a team that's strong this year and they want to win. So we have to have the same attitude going in and try to come out with a victory."