Former Alabama All-American Robert Stewart dies at 55

Robert Stewart, an All-America nostril sort out at Alabama within the early Nineteen Nineties, has died. He was 55.

Stewart died over the weekend in his adopted hometown of Charlotte, N.C., the place he had settled after a prolonged Area Soccer profession. The reason for demise was not instantly disclosed.

Thought to be one of many strongest gamers in Alabama soccer historical past, the 6-foot, 308-pound Stewart was referred to as a lot for his prowess within the weight room as on the sphere. He performed three completely different positions for 3 completely different coaches throughout his Crimson Tide profession: Ray Perkins, Invoice Curry and Gene Stallings.

“Robert was a robust constructive presence every single day on our crew,” Curry wrote on Stewart’s on-line obituary web page. “His smile augmented nice bodily energy so everybody liked and revered him. Godspeed Robert.”

A local of Ashford in southeast Alabama, Stewart starred at Houston County Excessive College earlier than signing with the Crimson Tide in 1986. He started his Alabama profession at inside linebacker and later performed fullback, speeding for 2 touchdowns in 1988.

But it surely was after a transfer to the line of defense in 1990 that Stewart blossomed as a participant. The 6-foot, 308-pound Stewart was a first-team All-American and All-SEC choose in 1991 when he totaled 59 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 6 sacks for a Crimson Tide crew that completed 11-1 and ranked No. 5 nationally.

Stewart was chosen as one in every of Alabama’s everlasting crew captains as a senior, and had his hand and shoe prints immortalized in concrete at Denny Chimes. He was drafted within the eighth spherical by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints in 1992.

After failing to catch on within the NFL, Stewart gravitated to Area Soccer. In an 11-year profession that resulted in 2004, he was a six-time All-Area choose and was chosen the league’s lineman of the yr in 1999.