South Carolina Football: Priority Gamecock Target Is Now #1 in 2024 Class

Dylan Stewart. If you are not already familiar with his name (and his game), change that. The Friendship Collegiate Academy (Washington DC) junior was just moved up to the number-1 spot in on3.com’s 2024 top-300 rankings. Another big-time prospect out of the DMV, Stewart is a 6’5″, 235-pound EDGE player who has been making noise since his sophomore season.

Stewart has an offer list full of the “who’s who” of college football. Perennial powers such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia are among his 30+ offers. South Carolina joins Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and local school Maryland as programs that seem to get the most attention from Stewart on his Twitter account.

As a player, Stewart is a good athlete who excels at rushing the passer. He is long enough (81-inch wingspan) and has a big enough frame to project as a defensive end at the next level. However, his athleticism is formidable enough that linebacker is not out of the question, especially if he is still allowed to rush the passer while standing up like in this clip. He also has shown an adeptness at using his hands to knock down the hands of would-be pass protectors.

If Stewart were to pick the Gamecocks, he would be yet another member of the DMV to SC club, joining fellow blue chippers Nyckoles Harbor, ‘Tosin “Big Tree” Babalade, Desmond Umeozulu, and others. The developing pipeline would be further established if Head Coach Shane Beamer and his staff continue their DMV emphasis and land the nation’s top player.

Other notable Gamecock-related rankings updates in the on3 top-300 rankings include in-state offensive tackle target Josiah Thompson being moved up to #19 overall (#2 OT), commitment Kam Pringle moving to #44 (#5 OT), January-commit Wendell Gregory shifting to #48 nationally (#4 LB), tight end pledge Michael Smith ascending to #120 in America (#7 TE), recent-commit Mazeo Bennett being listed finally as a wide receiver at #126 (#20 WR), in-state target Kelvin Hunter climbing up to #190 (#21 S), and Dante Reno moving out of the top-300 (#37 QB).