Texas A&M coach Mike Elko has dismissed speculation that NFL prospect Shemar Stewart will return to college football rather than play for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Defensive end Stewart played for the Aggies for three seasons before being selected by the Bengals with the 17th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Since then, however, Stewart has been locked in a contract dispute with Cincinnati, with the 21-year-old complaining about ‘unfair’ treatment. 

After he was spotted training back with Texas A&M, rumors abounded that Stewart could put his NFL career on hold and return to college. 

But Elko confirmed the defensive prospect is fully committed to the upcoming NFL season with the Bengals.

‘Shemar Stewart is back with us, working out, getting ready to go to Cincinnati to play in the NFL. It’s amazing what can get created on social media these days,’ the coach told ESPN.

“Shemar Stewart is back with us, working out, getting ready to go to Cincinnati to play in the NFL. It’s amazing what can get created on social media these days.”Texas A&M coach Mike Elko confirms that Bengals 1st round pick Shemar Stewart is just working out with his old… pic.twitter.com/HZ9696d6yu

— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) July 17, 2025

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko has dismissed rumors that Shemar Stewart will return to college

Defensive end Stewart played for the Aggies for three years before being picked by Cincinnati

‘There’s no intentions of Shemar to play for the Aggies this year. But Shemar has been around. He’s very comfortable in our program and really likes what we do training-wise. 

‘He’s been training, getting ready for his season this year with the Bengals. We wish him the best.’

According to The Athletic, the dispute between Stewart and Cincinnati centers around a clause in his contract that allows the team to void guaranteed money, should the prospect ‘default’ on the deal through conduct that is ‘detrimental to the team’.

This could include committing a criminal offense or hurting himself during a banned activity. 

Stewart believes the clause is ‘unfair’ and has accused the Bengals of treating him differently to previous first-round picks. 

‘Trying to implement something new, to me, is unfair,’ he said last month. ‘And I feel like I’ve been nothing but fair. I’m not asking for nothing crazy. 

‘I could understand if I was asking for more on my signing bonus, which I’m not. (The Bengals) trying to do all of this is crazy.’

Stewart and Cincinnati’s other rookies are slated to report for training camp on Saturday. He sat out mandatory minicamp and is one of only two draft picks – alongside Demetrius Knight Jr. – who remained unsigned.