Avon Lake's Max Riley, Aidan Stewart sign to continue football careers at Division I colleges

AVON LAKE — Throughout their high school football careers, Max Riley and Aidan Stewart helped to fill Avon Lake's Memorial Stadium on Friday nights with their athletic achievements. Wednesday morning they showed they can fill a library, too. In front of a collection of family, friends and Avon Lake staff and students that packed the school's library, Riley and Stewart signed their commitments to play Division I college football, as the early football national signing day period got underway. Riley, a two-time All-Ohio offensive linemen and Lombardi Award winner as the top lineman in Lorain County, signed to to continue his career for the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Stewart will play football and serve his country at the United State Air Force Academy. "It was pretty surreal," Riley said of signing. "It's been a long time coming after going though the recruiting process for about three and a half years. I appreciate all the people that came here today, family, friends, teammates, coaches, teachers, having everyone's support really means a lot." Riley made a poster board when he was in seventh grade that listed among his future goals, to be a four-year starter, earn All-Ohio honors and play for Ohio State. Through hard work and dedication to his sport, he's checked all the boxes. "Max is a goal-oriented guy and he's going to continue to be successful," Shoreman coach Matt Kostelnik said. "It's going to be a blast to watch Max play. I am looking forward to it. I know he's going to set his sights high and work really, really hard." There is no box to check off for Stewart's talents because he played nearly everywhere on the field during his senior year. Stewart led the team in receiving with 41 catches for 641 yards, led the team with 5.6 yards per carry in the backfield, while leading the team with 12 touchdowns. He also spent time at quarterback and kicked six field goals, including a 47-yarder against rival Avon. Stewart was a second-team All-Ohio wide receiver in 2024 and the Southwestern Conference specialty player of the year as a senior. "It's a satisfying feeling to see my hard work pay off. I've been here for three years and really worked hard. Today is a big deal for me," said Stewart, who came to Avon Lake to live with his grandparents prior to his sophomore year from Australia, where his parents reside. "I don't wanna say I didn't think it would happen, but I knew it would be really hard. I believed in myself. It was never like I thought I couldn't do it, but I was always realistic about how hard it would be." Stewart isn't sure he would have had the same level of success anywhere but Avon Lake. "This school is awesome," Stewart said "They have really turned me into who I am now, not just athletically but academically as well. The school is really good. I've had really good teachers and coaches that are always behind you and always supportive." Kostelnik looked on beaming with pride as Riley and Stewart put pen to paper to make their commitments official. "It's a great day for Shoremen football and a great day for two awesome individuals," Kostelnik said. "I am extremely proud of both of them. Today is a testament to their work ethic." Riley will be graduating early from Avon Lake so he can early enroll at Ohio State and participate in the Buckeyes' offseason program. "I'll get a six-month head start from where I'd be if I enrolled in June," Riley said. "Coach (Ryan) Day said he treats mid-year's like they're already sophomores because they went through spring ball and winter workouts. We'll see what happens when I get down there. I just have to put the work in." When Stewart gets to the Air Force Academy this summer, he'll be joined by a pair of Ohio Mr. Football Award finalists, Shelby quarterback Brayden DeVito and Indian Valley running back/wide receiver Grady Kinsey. "We're actually all in a group chat together," Stewart said "It's awesome knowing the class we're in is going to be really talented. By the end of our career at Air Force, we should have a really strong team, and I'm really excited about it." Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.