South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart returned to team activities Monday and is on track to play against Florida this week after serving a one-game suspension, according to CBS Sports. Head coach Shane Beamer said Stewart’s status for Saturday’s game will be finalized as the week progresses.
Stewart sat out South Carolina’s overtime loss to Kentucky after the SEC suspended him for punching an Alabama player during the Gamecocks’ 49-18 loss on Sept. 26. Beamer also placed Stewart on an indefinite team suspension on top of the conference penalty.
The Main Development
Beamer confirmed Monday that Stewart attended the team’s 8 a.m. meeting and took part in practice, the first step toward clearing him for Saturday’s matchup with Florida. “He came back today and was in the 8 a.m. team meeting we had this morning, and he was at practice,” Beamer said.
Beamer stopped short of guaranteeing Stewart will play. “As I’ve told him and the team, his status will be determined as we go throughout the week,” he said. The dual suspension, one game from the SEC and an indefinite one from the program, means Stewart’s full reinstatement rests on Beamer’s evaluation this week.
What It Means
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey specifically cited the Alabama incident in handing down the suspension, calling it egregious contact. “Dylan Stewart’s egregious contact reflects behavior that is unacceptable and not aligned with the standards of the Southeastern Conference,” Sankey said. “Such action against an opponent carries a serious risk of injury and has no place in our conference competition. This suspension is appropriate, and any future misconduct by Dylan Stewart will result in more severe disciplinary action.”
ESPN also reported that Stewart was seen arguing with South Carolina’s coaching staff during the Alabama game, a separate incident from the punch that triggered the SEC’s ruling. Beamer’s decision to add an indefinite team suspension on top of the league penalty suggests the coaching staff viewed Stewart’s conduct that day as a broader issue than a single play.
Context: Stewart’s Production And Draft Standing
Stewart has posted 22.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks across his first two seasons at South Carolina. A five-star recruit in the 2024 class, he is regarded as one of the top prospects in the sport heading into the 2027 NFL draft. ESPN’s Jordan Reid has projected him as a top-10 pick, and Bleacher Report ranked him as the fifth-best overall player and second-best edge rusher on its 2027 draft big board.
That pedigree is part of why his absence was notable against Kentucky. Bleacher Report reported that South Carolina’s defense struggled without Stewart in that 35-34 overtime loss.
Team Impact
South Carolina enters Saturday at 2-3 overall and 0-3 in SEC play, having dropped three straight games. The Gamecocks have lost eight consecutive conference games and 12 of their last 14 against Power Four opponents. Those numbers underline the stakes for a program trying to stop the bleeding against a conference opponent in Florida, with or without its top pass rusher at full strength.
What’s Next
South Carolina plays Florida on Saturday in Week 6. Beamer has not set a timeline for when Stewart’s status will be finalized, saying only that it will be determined throughout the week. South Carolina preview.
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