Former rival player holding out with the Bengals gives Texas fans a good laugh

Longhorn Nation earned some good laughs as a former rival player refused to practice with the Cincinnati Bengals before his contract was finalized.
Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) tips a pass from Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Mike Wright
Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (4) tips a pass from Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Mike Wright | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies never fully went away, but now that the two programs share a conference once again, the hatred for one another has blossomed once again.

Recently, a former Texas A&M player stalled his NFL career and gave Texas fans something to have a good laugh about as he refused to step onto the practice field.

Defensive end Shemar Stewart, who played for the Aggies from 2022 through 2024, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft and is already making life difficult for his new franchise as he refuses to practice.

Stewart has been in attendance for Bengals practices since being drafted just a few weeks ago, but is holding out from participating until his contract is finalized, despite NFL franchises holding onto the ability to waive rookies without penalty.

Did Shemar Stewart ever play against Texas?

Stewart started in 12 games for the Aggies during the 2024 football season and played against the Longhorns as the two programs restarted their rivalry feud.

While playing against Texas, he earned five total tackles (one solo) but was never able to get to the quarterbacks, as both Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning took snaps against Texas A&M. Throughout the entire 2024 season, Stewart earned 32 total tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Stewart was drafted 17th overall by the Bengals, making him the first former Aggie selected during the 2025 NFL Draft.

In their first game against one another in nearly a decade and a half, the Longhorns walked away with a 17-7 victory over the Aggies. Texas is scheduled to host Texas A&M on Friday, Nov. 28, at 6:30 p.m. CT.

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