Michigan State University Athletics
Darrell Stewart Jr.: Catching Footballs, Stopping Crime
9/26/2019 1:58:00 PM | Football
When people hear the name Darrell Stewart Jr., they think of the 131 career receptions and the numerous all-purpose yards he has accumulated over his four years as a Spartan. What people don't think about is the young man from Houston, Texas, with a passion for criminal justice.
Stewart's initial interest in the criminal justice system grew from the childhood he experienced and from the community he grew up in. With many indifferent feelings circling his city about the system, Stewart decided it would be up to him to change his community's perspective for the better.
"I really do want to change how things look and knowing the people from my side of the turf," Stewart explained. "I know how people look at the criminal justice system, and I just want to give people a different outlook and aspects on how the criminal justice system is not out to hunt certain people. If you want to seek help from the criminal justice system, it's very accessible to the people who need it."
His Houston roots and his family have played a large role in helping him become the man he is today, and it is because of these family ties that Stewart chose a career that would allow him to give back just as much to his community as they have given to him.
"The thing I look at is the community and being one with the community. We talked about, with one of my criminal justice teachers, getting to know whatever community you get assigned to and letting the people know that you are there for them to serve and protect," Stewart said.
His career path has allowed him to be a part of some amazing opportunities in the past couple of years. A recent opportunity he was given was back in September of 2018, where he joined the secret service when Vice President Mike Pence came to Grand Rapids.
"I've done a couple internships and a shadow job with the secret service when Vice President Mike Pence came to Grand Rapids," Stewart said. "That was a pretty interesting thing to do and just being around those guys and seeing my love for criminal justice through that aspect. I'm looking forward to also to doing this. The secret service and stuff like that really excites me a lot."
After his many experiences, Stewart has been able to find commonalities between what it takes to work in the criminal justice system and what it takes to be a part of Spartan football. Both will demand of him the same amount of determination, motivation and passion, and he is here to give both everything he's got.
"Discipline. Teamwork. You're going to have to work with people and have an ultimate goal that you're going to have to come together to complete. Being able to persevere when adversity hits. You're going to have to learn when things change and are constantly moving around to adapt to those things and think of a better outcome," Stewart explained.
With just one year left between him and moving on to the next phase, Stewart has much to look forward to both on and off the field.Â
Graduation, in particular, holds its own special place in not only his life, but in his families' as well.
"It's a beautiful feeling. I'm going to be the first in my immediate family to graduate college, and that's going to be an amazing feeling to see my mom happy for me walking across the stage," Stewart said. "That's something I'm really looking forward to."
As prepared as he is for his time to walk across the stage, Stewart still looks forward to the next few months on the field that lie ahead.Â
In his senior season, Stewart holds high expectation for himself and for his team. He hopes to leave Spartan Nation with a confidence for future seasons to come.
"A great season and ending off well," Stewart expressed. "Coach D always talks about leaving your jersey in a better place, and I know I've got a lot of people and my city rooting for me and on my back, so I just want to make them proud."
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Stewart's initial interest in the criminal justice system grew from the childhood he experienced and from the community he grew up in. With many indifferent feelings circling his city about the system, Stewart decided it would be up to him to change his community's perspective for the better.
"I really do want to change how things look and knowing the people from my side of the turf," Stewart explained. "I know how people look at the criminal justice system, and I just want to give people a different outlook and aspects on how the criminal justice system is not out to hunt certain people. If you want to seek help from the criminal justice system, it's very accessible to the people who need it."
His Houston roots and his family have played a large role in helping him become the man he is today, and it is because of these family ties that Stewart chose a career that would allow him to give back just as much to his community as they have given to him.
"The thing I look at is the community and being one with the community. We talked about, with one of my criminal justice teachers, getting to know whatever community you get assigned to and letting the people know that you are there for them to serve and protect," Stewart said.
His career path has allowed him to be a part of some amazing opportunities in the past couple of years. A recent opportunity he was given was back in September of 2018, where he joined the secret service when Vice President Mike Pence came to Grand Rapids.
"I've done a couple internships and a shadow job with the secret service when Vice President Mike Pence came to Grand Rapids," Stewart said. "That was a pretty interesting thing to do and just being around those guys and seeing my love for criminal justice through that aspect. I'm looking forward to also to doing this. The secret service and stuff like that really excites me a lot."
After his many experiences, Stewart has been able to find commonalities between what it takes to work in the criminal justice system and what it takes to be a part of Spartan football. Both will demand of him the same amount of determination, motivation and passion, and he is here to give both everything he's got.
"Discipline. Teamwork. You're going to have to work with people and have an ultimate goal that you're going to have to come together to complete. Being able to persevere when adversity hits. You're going to have to learn when things change and are constantly moving around to adapt to those things and think of a better outcome," Stewart explained.
With just one year left between him and moving on to the next phase, Stewart has much to look forward to both on and off the field.Â
Graduation, in particular, holds its own special place in not only his life, but in his families' as well.
"It's a beautiful feeling. I'm going to be the first in my immediate family to graduate college, and that's going to be an amazing feeling to see my mom happy for me walking across the stage," Stewart said. "That's something I'm really looking forward to."
As prepared as he is for his time to walk across the stage, Stewart still looks forward to the next few months on the field that lie ahead.Â
In his senior season, Stewart holds high expectation for himself and for his team. He hopes to leave Spartan Nation with a confidence for future seasons to come.
"A great season and ending off well," Stewart expressed. "Coach D always talks about leaving your jersey in a better place, and I know I've got a lot of people and my city rooting for me and on my back, so I just want to make them proud."
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