South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart just put on an absolute clinic against No. 15 Florida, a performance that not only spearheaded a massive 38-19 upset win but also sent the Gators tumbling from the ranked polls. This isn’t just another win, though; it’s a huge step forward for Stewart, a junior who’s been battling through a seriously rocky start to his season, including missing time with injury and a recent suspension.
From the Sidelines to Absolute Dominance
Talk about a rollercoaster. Stewart has been through it this year. After missing only one game in his first two seasons, he was sidelined for three of the first five games this year. Remember that back injury? It kept him out all spring and pretty much all summer, only letting him get back to practice in early September before his season debut on September 19 against Mississippi State. And then, just one week later, Coach Shane Beamer and the SEC dropped the hammer, suspending him for incidents during the Alabama game on September 26, which included punching a player in the helmet. Seriously. He wasn’t even with the Gamecocks for their heartbreaking 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky on October 3. He only returned to the team on October 6.
But man, did he make up for lost time against Florida. On a crucial third-and-15 in the first quarter, Stewart absolutely blew past Florida’s offensive lineman, using his insane length to take down quarterback Aaron Philo for a 7-yard loss. That was his first sack since November 15, 2025! He followed it up with his best performance of the season by far: five tackles (four solo), two forced fumbles, that one sack, and one tackle for loss. Pro Football Focus blessed him with a career-best 95.8 grade for his defense and a 92.7 pressure grade, which is the second-highest he’s had in three seasons. And get this: Stewart is one of just 18 players in the FBS and one of only two in the SEC to force multiple fumbles in a single game this season. He now has three games with 2-plus forced fumbles, a feat only seven other players in program history have pulled off even once. That’s just wild.
Beamer’s Belief and the Road Ahead
Coach Beamer was straight up about Stewart’s struggles. “I think he was very frustrated the last few games because he didn’t feel like he was playing well,” Beamer said on October 11. “He didn’t feel like he was making an impact because he didn’t feel 100%.” But Beamer’s message to him was clear: “Dylan, you being 50% and only playing 10 plays a game, you’re going to make an impact more than most guys.” And boy, was he right. Beamer didn’t hold back his praise after the Florida game: “He was awesome throughout the game, his impact on the field is evident. He’s a special talent in the way that he’s able to affect other teams’ offenses.” Beamer even called out how Stewart “played the run well, just fitting gaps and being where he was supposed to be.”
It’s clear Beamer knows what he has in Stewart, who’s a potential top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The coach had even warned Stewart that Florida would probably “try and provoke” him, given his past emotional incidents. Beamer was super pleased with how Stewart stayed “poised” and played “disciplined throughout” the whole game. Now, the Gamecocks (2-3, 1-3 before Florida) have an open date to regroup after that huge upset. They host Tennessee (5-1, 2-1) on October 24. Beamer is already looking ahead, telling Stewart that “This will be a huge couple weeks for him and should see an even better version of him against Tennessee.” You better believe we’ll be watching to see if Stewart can keep that fire burning!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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