Title image via Tennessee State Athletics
Courtesy of TSU Athletics
Tennessee State linebacker James Stewart has been selected to the All-OVC Big South First Team, the league announced Tuesday, capping a breakout 2025 season in which he emerged as one of the conference’s premier defensive playmakers.
Stewart finished the year with 68 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 65 TFL yards, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 pass breakups, placing him among the conference’s top defensive performers. He ranked eighth in sacks, fifth in TFL yards, fifth in total TFLs, second in TFLs per game (1.46), and tied for third in forced fumbles, solidifying his status as one of the OVC-Big South’s most disruptive playmakers.
Stewart delivered some of TSU’s most dominant defensive performances of the season, including a standout opener against North Carolina A&T with six tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a sack. He followed with seven tackles against Alabama A&M before producing disruptive back-to-back conference outings versus Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois. His signature effort came on November 8 at UT Martin, where he posted a season-high nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, leading a relentless defensive effort on the road.
In addition to Stewart’s first-team honor, offensive lineman Veguer Jean-Jumeau and running back/all-purpose athlete Kendrick Rhymes were both selected to the OVC Big South Honorable Mention list.
Jean-Jumeau, a redshirt freshman, started all 12 games for the Tigers and anchored an offensive line that supported TSU’s balanced attack throughout the season. His durability, consistency, and physicality in the trenches made him one of the league’s top young linemen.
Rhymes earned honorable mention recognition as an all-purpose athlete, showcasing his versatility as a runner, receiver, and returner. He opened the season with a statement performance, rushing for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and a 60-yard long run against North Carolina A&T — his season highs. Rhymes added 111 rushing yards, 64 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown against Alabama A&M, and later posted 53 receiving yards versus Tennessee Tech and a 48-yard reception against Howard. He finished the year with multiple contributions in the kick return game, including a season-long 18-yard return at Eastern Illinois.
