Shemar Stewart’s journey from Miramar, Florida, to Texas is really inspirational. Interestingly, just because of his parents, Brandon Marquez and Latoya Smith, a  Miami, Florida, native, Shemar chose Texas A&M over the Hurricanes. “My parents didn’t want me to stay at home at all,” the five-star prospect in 2022, Shemar, revealed earlier. And his parents’ idea really paved the way for him to the NFL. Embracing his parents’ suggestion, he has established his name in Texas college history. And his impressive college stats and milestones cannot be ignored.

During his three years of college, he recorded a total of 4.5 sacks. And, he finished his 2024 season by posting 14 solo tackles with 1 FF and 1.5 sacks. Additionally, notching  All-SEC Third Team honors is another remarkable achievement. It has possibly attracted many NFL teams as he has become an intriguing prospect for the 2025 NFL draft. For exceptional explosiveness and athleticism, he also drew attention at the NFL scouting combine. He left many astonished by rushing a .59 40-yard dash at just 267 pounds. And he made this possible thanks to the tremendous backing of his parents.

Who are Shemar Stewart’s parents?

Standing at 6’1 “and weighing 290 pounds, Shemar Stewart’s parents, Brandon Marquez and Latoya Smith, have been his true guiding lights throughout his life journey. According to a Firstsportz website article published on February 27, 2025, Stewart shared details about his parents’ residences during an interview with the Miami Herald.

The edge rusher explained that his dad has Jamaican roots and lives in Jamaica, while his mom raised him in Miramar, Florida. Besides his parents, he also reflected on his bond with his grandparents, who reside in North Miami. She also played the key role in shaping his football journey.

From encouraging his athletic aspirations at a young age to helping him become one of the most prominent Texas A&M Aggies players, his parents really did an excellent job. And, for this, he will be grateful forever.

How have Shemar Stewart’s parents been their son’s biggest supporters?

Back in September 2023, during an interview with the official Texas A&M website, Shemar, 21, shed light on his parents’ contributions to shaping his football career. He disclosed that he respected his parents’ decision even though he still wanted to play for his home team, the Miami Hurricanes. “It’s Miami, you know. The nightlife can get pretty distracting. Trying to keep my head on straight,” he mentioned.

So, it is quite clear that his parents’ perception of his football career really helped him a lot. Besides this, another incident also showcased his dad’s steadfast support towards his football career. During his sophomore season in 2023, when he was playing for Texas A&M, his dad, Brandon Marquez, was the one who eased his disappointment. But why was he disconsolate? Stewart was disappointed with himself last Saturday for inadvertently grabbing the face mask of a New Mexico receiver on a reverse.

During a Saturday game in September 2023, Stewart got upset with himself after accidentally hitting a New Mexico receiver’s face mask on a reverse. And, he had to suffer a six-yard loss as a penalty during the game. “I was so disappointed with myself. I saw (the reverse) coming all the way. I aimed for his shoulder pad, but I reached a little too far,” he described.

And then he went on to talk about his dad’s suggestion. “My dad told me you play with people that’s 5-(foot)-8 and you’re 6-(foot)-6… it ain’t gonna work out every time,” he remarked further. It indeed showcased his parents’ involvement in his football career.

Undoubtedly, with his parents’ strong backing, he nailed it by becoming the top edge rusher at Texas A&M and the top NFL prospect for the 2025 NFL draft. His recent visit to the Steelers also showcased his interest in becoming a Steelers fan. Well, time will tell with which NFL team he will shape his NFL aspirations.