The trek continues for the list of former Baylor Bears who made the leap to play in the United States Football League (USFL), and today we take a closer look at Orion Stewart.
Stewart, a 28-year-old safety from Waco, Texas, was selected by the Michigan Panthers in the 18th round of the 2022 USFL Draft.
As a redshirt freshman for the Bears in 2013, the homegrown safety started twice and played in all 13 games for Baylor — garnering 39 total tackles (25 solo), four pass break ups and one interception on the season.
In 2014, during Stewart’s sophomore season with Baylor, he started 12 of 13 games for the Big 12 Champions and was also named first-team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press — with the star safety totaling 82 tackles (53 solo), four interceptions (tied for third in the league) and three pass break ups.
Stewart started at safety in nine games (played in 10) in 2015, filling up the stat sheets regardless of missing two games due to injury and one to suspension — picking up 64 total tackles (50 solo), three pass break ups, two QB hurries, two fumble recoveries (tied for fourth in the Big 12), one forced fumble and one interception. He was also named honorable mention All-Big 12.
Starting all 13 games at safety for his senior campaign at Baylor, Stewart racked up 76 total tackles (51 solo), six interceptions (ranked seventh nationally and second in the Big 12), and five pass break ups to go along with first-team All-Big 12 honors. Stewart also sits at seventh overall with the Bears for career interceptions (12).
After bouncing around with a handful of NFL practice teams (Denver and Washington in 2017, Giants in 2018, and Buccaneers in 2019) as an undrafted free agent and a brief stint with the San Antonio Commanders in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) league in 2018, Stewart appears to have found a football home with Michigan in the 2022 USFL Draft.
Thus far for the Panthers this season, Stewart has 12 tackles and one interception.
Fun fact: Stewart is a local product out of Midway High School and graduated from Baylor in Aug. 2016 with a degree in communication studies.
Next game for Stewart and the Michigan Panthers (1-3, 3rd place in the North): a matchup against the Tampa Bay Bandits (2-2, 3rd place in the South) on Friday, May 13 at 7 pm Central Time on USA.
Due up next for the Baylor Bears in a USFL profile snapshot: Andrew Galitz.
