When it comes to Shane Beamer’s South Carolina Gamecocks, their defense did not do well last season. In 2024, they were ranked as the 16th team when it came to total defense. They averaged 4.84 yards per play. Beamer’s defense has been a mixed bag. For their 35-9 win over Oklahoma, the defense deserved the credit in the face of the crumbling offense. On the other hand, Beamer’s team did not go on a strong defensive stretch and allowed just 12 points per game against Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Clemson.

However, someone was there who helped Beamer’s defense keep floating against strong waves. That’s none other than their freshman defensive end, 6-foot-5, 250-pound star Dylan Stewart. He came up with a total of 23 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and three fumbles. But turns out that Stewart still had a lot to prove. And before the 2025 season lifts the curtains, he is already sending panic among the rivals.   

What better way to keep your rivals on the edge than polishing your craft with one of the best? Last season, Stewart finished with 34 quarterback hurries. Now, the former five-star is in the lab stirring a concoction under the supervision of one of the greats from South Carolina. That’s none other than Jadeveon Clowney. On July 28, CFB insider Hayes Fawcett posted on Instagram, “South Carolina star EDGE Dylan Stewart was training with Gamecock Legend Jadeveon Clowney earlier today 👀.” Coaches joke about how many words you’ll be able to get out of Stewart in an interview. That’s how he is, a man of limited words and wants his actions on the gridiron to do all the talking.

That’s when he chose to be under Clowney’s guidance, who is currently an NFL free agent. The caption further read, “Stewart is arguably the best defensive player to come through South Carolina since Clowney, & he’s only played 1 season. Scary sight for every QB on the Gamecocks’ schedule.” Clowney played for South Carolina from 2011-2013 and still today, stands as the face of the program. He broke numerous school records during his time, including the single-season tackles for loss record in 2012. Stewart’s mentor had set South Carolina’s single-season record for sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (23.5). Under Clowney, the program went on to have three 11-win seasons, a feat that was uncommon before his arrival.

Analyst Brad Crawford described him best: “Clowney was a menace off the edge for the Gamecocks as a true freshman.” Right now, in South Carolina, if there is anyone of Clowney’s calibre, that’s Stewart. The defensive EDGE stands at No. 9 on PFF’s list of college football’s Top 50 players. And Stewart already has approval from his mentor. As Clowney noted, “They’re making USC come back to life. I think he’s pretty good. I think he’s got great speed, great bend. And I can tell he’s been working [on] his moves.” If that’s not enough, even Beamer is now seeing Stewart as the Gamecocks’ flagbearer.

Shane Beamer backs Dylan Stewart as Gamecocks’ defensive anchor

When it comes to loyalty, Stewart has already passed that test. He was so good as a true freshman that he had already picked up No.1 2027 draft pick buzz. And obviously, this caught the eyes of other programs trying to snatch him away from Beamer. In June, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that multiple schools “made a run” to convince Stewart to jump into the portal during both the 2024 winter portal and the 2025 spring portal. Turns out that if the defensive EDGE had taken the chance, he would have been “one of the highest-paid players in college football this season.”

Beamer recently joined the SEC Network’s ‘SEC Now’ to preview the 2025 season. On the show, it seemed that the head coach is counting high on Stewart being one of the players that Gamecocks fans should expect to see a lot this season. For the ones who were scared of losing their SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year award, Kyle Kennard, who finished with 11.5 sacks and 28 tackles in 2024, here comes some hope.

“We lost the SEC defensive player of the year in Kyle Kennard,” said Beamer. “But we are fortunate to bring back, in my opinion, the best edge rusher in the nation in Dylan Stewart. However, we have to be good around him as well.” Right now, LaNorris Sellers, too, can be at peace, and described Stewart as “ferocious, vicious.” Now that Stewart trains under the best, we can expect him to be even more disruptive this season. With a player who is all locked into football and has no hobbies, just finding new ways to aggressively pummel quarterbacks, the rivals better gear up for tough days.