In recent years, the South Carolina football program has been unafraid to play true freshmen. In the three seasons since Shane Beamer became the head coach of the Gamecocks, the team has had true freshmen playing important roles.
The trend has grown over the past two years as USC has had multiple first-year players starting at prominent positions. In fact, in both 2022 and 2023, the Gamecocks put two players on Freshman All-American squads as safeties Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith earned the honor in 2022, and Jalon Kilgore and Trovon Baugh were selected after the 2023 season.
None of those four players had high-level expectations nationally heading into their first year in garnet and black but stepped up into roles unexpected by most outside of Columbia. This offseason, though, national hype is following a pair of USC youngsters.
Class of 2024 5-star prospects Dylan Stewart and Josiah Thompson have had their names all over preseason lists, and, as potential starters for the South Carolina football program, both players have been included on multiple preseason Freshman All-American lists. On Tuesday, the dynamic duo added another preseason honor to their ledgers as both Stewart and Thompson were picked for the 247Sports preseason Freshman All-American team.
Of the two, Thompson appears to have the better chance of being in the first group on the field for next Saturday's season opener against the Old Dominion Monarchs. The big left tackle has been battling with last year's primary starter Tree Babalade and a couple of veterans but seems to be the team's best option right now. Babalade, who has dealt with some minor injuries, could slide to a different position up front but has worked primarily at left tackle during his Gamecock career.
Stewart is part of a defensive end/EDGE room that is loaded with veteran players and young talent. Figuring out who will start at the beginning of the season is impossible, but Stewart is sure to be a major part of the rotation, especially in pass rush situations. He can operate in both the 4-2-5 and 3-3-5 and has experience with his hand in the dirt and playing at a stand-up EDGE spot.
There are other freshmen who could crack the starting lineup in Columbia before the season ends, as well. Wide receiver Mazeo Bennett is fighting for a starting gig right now, and linebackers Wendell Gregory and Fred "JayR" Johnson, running back Matthew Fuller, tight end Michael Smith, defensive back Jalewis Solomon, and kicker/punter Mason Love could be factors for Shane Beamer's team this fall.