The South Carolina Gamecocks are less than a week away from starting fall camp. As head coach Shane Beamer looks to start fresh after a 4-8 season in Columbia, one of the biggest questions surrounding the program is the health of star EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart.Â
The rising junior, who has 56 total tackles with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles across his last two seasons, has been dealing with a back injury since last season. According to head coach Shane Beamer, the Gamecocks star played through a back injury throughout the season last year.Â
As a result, Stewart has been kept out of spring practices and various other team activities as a result. Although Coach Beamer has said that Stewart is progressing well physically, the head coach was asked how he is handling the injury rehab mentally.Â
"Just making sure that he knows that we’re never going to do anything with him before he’s ready," Coach Beamer said via Gamecock Central. "That’s any player, from a physical standpoint. Yeah, we all want him back out there quickly, but he won’t be until one, the doctors say he’s good to go, and he feels great about it. And that’s going back to last season, too. He wasn’t 100% healthy, to say the least, during last season."
Despite the injury, Stewart is projected to be a high first-round NFL Draft pick in 2027, with some projections even having him land somewhere early inside the Top-10. Of course, even if Stewart is physically cleared to play, that doesn't mean much if he mentally isn't in a good place. But it sounds like Beamer and the Gamecock coaching and rehab staff have done a good job of balancing both sides of the rehab process.Â
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Understanding that we’re going to rest, and that’s the best thing for you," Beamer continued. "To then allow you, when you are cleared, to get back out there, be an even better version of the Dylan Stewart that we all saw when he came on the scene in 2024. And I know he will be. He’s in a great frame of mind."
South Carolina's defense last season finished 52nd overall in total defense, 49th in rushing defense and tied for 100th in sacks. If the Gamecocks want to make it to a bowl game in 2026, improving in all of those metrics will be key. To do that, Stewart will have to be back 100% both physically, but perhaps more importantly, mentally.Â
Coach Beamer has not yet stated whether or not Stewart is fully cleared for practice. The same goes for star offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak, who is rehabbing from a knee injury. But South Carolina needs both guys fully healthy if the Gamecocks want to get the 2026 season back on track.Â
South Carolina opens the 2026 season at home on Sept. 5 against Kent State.
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