South Carolina football picked up its highest-rated prospect in the class of 2024 (and its highest-rated prospect since at least 2020) when Dylan Stewart made his Gamecock pledge public on Tuesday. The 5-star EDGE rusher told multiple sources that “It’s over” and “I’m done” before taking to Twitter to let the college football world know that he is 100% Gamecock.
COMMITTED #ITSOVER @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/3adfDaWvKB
— Dylan Stewart (@Dylan1Stewart_) August 1, 2023
The commitment from Stewart is huge for a Gamecock squad that needs help at EDGE. He is the type of player who will play a lot as soon as he gets on campus. The long-term future at defensive end could be two starters from the DMV (DC, Maryland, northeast Virginia) in Stewart and 2023 4-star signee Desmond Umeozulu.
Naturally, many South Carolina football fans wanted to know how big of an impact the 5-star would have on the Gamecocks’ 2024 team recruiting rankings.
On3‘s ranking of the Carolina class moved up three spots from 20th nationally to 17th. Only 9 schools have better average player rankings than South Carolina football according to On3.
247Sports‘ number moved from 17th to 16th with Stewart’s addition to the class. Just 8 programs are ranked higher in average player rating.
Rivals, which tends to value quantity over quality, rates South Carolina football as the 26th-best class after having the Gamecocks ranked 27th before Stewart’s commitment. Only 7 teams have better average ratings than USC in Rivals’ ranking system.
ESPN does not update team recruiting rankings as often as the other three major recruiting sites.
The cherry on top of the Stewart commitment sundae? The Gamecocks aren’t done yet. South Carolina football is set to receive more good news (and, likely, more recruiting rankings bumps) in the near future.
4-star wide receiver Jonathan Paylor is announcing between South Carolina and NC State on August 4th, 4-star defensive back Jalewis Solomon is choosing between South Carolina and Auburn on August 5th, and players like 4-star running back Daniel Hill, 3-star defensive tackle D’Nas White, and 5-star defensive back Jontae Gilbert (class of 2025) could be announcing decisions in August, as well.