South Carolina just dropped the hammer, suspending star pass-rusher Dylan Stewart indefinitely on Sunday. This isn’t about a few missed plays: Stewart was at the center of multiple incidents during their blowout loss to Alabama on Saturday, and man, it looks bad for a guy once pegged as a potential top-10 pick. Coach Shane Beamer is already feeling the heat after back-to-back losses, and he isn’t going to tolerate this nonsense from even one of his most talented players. What a mess.
The Sideline Blow-Up Against Alabama
So, what exactly went down on that sideline against Alabama? It was ugly, all caught on camera. After an Alabama touchdown, Stewart straight up punched an Alabama player. You heard that right. The officials on the field missed it, but cameras sure didn’t, and social media buzzed. Coach Beamer didn’t mince words, flat out saying he was “embarrassed” by what he witnessed. But the punch was just one part of it. Stewart was also spotted jawing with Alabama coaches, talking back to his own coaches, and even tried to completely isolate himself, attempting to sit alone on the bench away from the rest of his team. One report even said he was refusing to come out of the game! Unbelievable! This was an absolutely awful look for the Gamecocks’ defensive end.
From Freshman Phenom to NFL Draft Disaster?
What a turn of events. This is *not* the attention you want when you’re supposed to be one of the country’s best young defenders with huge NFL aspirations. Remember when Stewart burst onto the scene as a true freshman, racking up 10.5 tackles for loss? He was electric. But things got quieter last season, with only 4.5 sacks, and this season he’s been battling injuries, constantly on and off the field. Now, with this indefinite suspension, his future with the program is completely up in the air, and his NFL dreams? Yikes. Coach Beamer announced he’s making a decision early this week on Stewart’s status, and honestly, it sounds like outright dismissal could be on the table. He ranks sixth on the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board for the 2027 NFL Draft. Punching a player and arguing with coaches on national TV will make a lot of scouts think twice. This could absolutely tank his draft stock from a top-10 prospect.
One thing is for sure: Stewart will not play against Kentucky this coming Saturday. Beyond that game, Coach Beamer hasn’t made any guarantees whatsoever. With the coach’s seat heating up and a star player delivering this self-inflicted wound, South Carolina’s season just got complicated, fast. Everyone’s watching to see what Beamer does next with Stewart, and what this saga ultimately means for a player with so much NFL potential now hanging in the balance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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