Five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart, ESPN’s No. 1 prospect for the class of 2026, is no longer enrolled at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, ESPN confirmed Friday afternoon, opening the door for a massive midseason transfer and possible reclassification to the class of 2025.

Stewart, the 6-foot-6, 275-pound high school junior, confirmed his departure from St. Augustine and told ESPN he plans to join a new program immediately. He is considering schools both in and out of Louisiana and hopes to be able to accept new students as early as Monday. The decision comes as Stewart considers transferring to the class of 2025, opening the possibility that he could finish his high school career this fall and land on a college campus as soon as January.

“St. Augustine has helped me become a much better person than I was before – it has taught me a lot of things,” Stewart said. “My plan is to find a school that will really help me with my decision – a place that will push me forward and help me make the decision I’m trying to make.”

An elite defensive line prospect, Stewart had offers from a number of power conference programs even before his freshman season at St. Augustine, where he emerged as an overwhelming pass-rushing force from the sidelines and inside. Stewart finished his junior season last fall with 85 total tackles (33 for loss) and 20 sacks and played in the program’s season opener last Friday.

If Stewart decides to reclassify in the fall, he will immediately become ESPN’s top uncommitted prospect in the 2025 cycle. Stewart released his top 15 schools earlier this year in a list packed with SEC and Big 10 programs, as well as Miami, Florida State and Colorado.

Stewart’s list of summer visits included trips to Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, Texas and Auburn, and in Week 1 he was in Las Vegas for the neutral-site opening game between USC and LSU. Stewart doesn’t plan on making any campus visits in Week 2.

“We just want to relax this weekend and maybe find a school,” he said. “I should go to school somewhere Monday or Tuesday.”