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![TMCNet: College football: Central Ohio Watch [The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio]](http://images.tmcnet.com/siteart/invisible.gif)
College football: Central Ohio Watch [The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio]
(Columbus Dispatch (OH) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 3--Walter Stewart, Cincinnati
It wasn't the best environment for a 19-year-old college football player to make his first start. Almost 42,000 people were making Reser Stadium on the campus of Oregon State rock on its foundation. There also was a regional television audience looking in.
Yet there was Walter Stewart, a redshirt freshman two years removed from playing in the Mid-State League for Teays Valley, needing only a digital camera to look like an excited tourist as well as an outside linebacker for the University of Cincinnati.
"That atmosphere was absolutely great," Stewart said. "Their fans were so crazy. They were on us the whole game. I kind of liked that. I came off the edge a few times and got to the quarterback. That was what I was supposed to do. I got after it. That first sack felt so good. That told me I could play at this level."
Stewart enjoyed the surroundings so much that he had 2 sacks in the Bearcats' 28-18 victory.
An injury to a teammate put Stewart into the lineup. His performance has kept him there for a team that is 8-0 for the first time since 1954 and ranked fifth in the BCS standings. He has 34 tackles to rank sixth on the team, an interception and a forced fumble.
Stewart has been much more than a pass rusher in a 3-4 defense. Coaches have had him drop into pass coverage because he is an athletic 6 feet 4, 225 pounds.
Many times, though, he finds himself opposite 300-pound offensive tackles.
"I do give up a lot of weight to the offensive linemen, but I've been playing undersized forever," Stewart said. "I've always been quick to rush the passer. I pay attention to technique so I don't get overpowered. I've been playing a lot in pass coverage, too. I'm running around and chasing receivers. It has been interesting and a lot of fun."
Cincinnati had to replace 10 starters on defense, but Stewart didn't think he would get a serious shot at one of those positions. He got his chance the third game of the season.
"I knew I was going to play a lot without starting, but then a starter got injured before Oregon State and the coaches said to be ready," Stewart said. "It was so sudden. I just prepared like I normally do because every practice for me is like my last. I take things seriously. I want to keep this job."
It has been a whirlwind two years for a player from a rural town that wasn't highly recruited by major colleges. Last year, he was on the traveling squad for the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech.
"I started thinking I could play D1 ball my junior year in high school," Stewart said. "My goal was to play in the Big Ten, but that would have been hard coming out of such a small high school. Cincinnati took a chance on me and I appreciate that. Akron and Youngstown State were the other schools that had serious interest. Now, the Bearcats are on the rise. I don't look at rankings of the BCS or anything like that. I'm just playing. I'll check all that at the end of the season."
Others to watch
Austin Holter, Wooster -- Holter, a senior quarterback from Johnstown, has thrown for 1,836 yards and 19 touchdowns and run for 647 yards and five touchdowns.
Brad Marchese, John Carroll -- Marchese, a freshman from St. Charles, has made nine of 10 field-goal attempts and 15 of 16 extra points.
Adam Kattoua, Wittenberg -- Kattoua, a junior defensive lineman from Upper Arlington, has 26 tackles, including 4 for losses.
mznidar@dispatch.com
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