The South Carolina Gamecocks are just days away from kicking off their Week 1 season opener against the Kent State Golden Flashes. As expected, the Gamecocks will be without their two stars in offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak and EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart.
Both have been rehabbing from their respective injuries, and have yet to be fully cleared to return to practice. Although Beamer had previously confirmed that both guys would not be ready in time for Week 1 on August 19, he reiterated their status in the week leading up to kickoff against the Golden Flashes to ESPN's Pete Thamel:
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer told ESPN he does not expect star DE Dylan Stewart (back) or prized LT transfer Jacarrius Peak (knee) to play against Kent State this weekend. He added both are ramping up to return, as Peak will do “more this morning than he’d done all year” in… pic.twitter.com/skDIkbF0FB
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 1, 2026
Peak has been working back from a knee injury he sustained in February during a pick-up basketball game, whereas Stewart suffered a back injury last season with South Carolina that he continued to play through.
In another encouraging sign, Beamer added to Thamel that he expects Stewart to be fully cleared for contact soon:
He said Stewart “will be cleared for contact soon and then he’ll be ready to roll.” South Carolina plays Towson Week 2 and Mississippi State Week 3.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 1, 2026
Beamer has said all offseason that both guys continue to progress well as they work back from their injuries. Of course, South Carolina fans were hoping to have both stars available for the Gamecocks' Week 1 game, especially given how long they have been off the field. On Tuesday afternoon, Beamer added that both guys are "getting closer:"
Beamer: Peak and Stewart won't play Saturday.
— David Cloninger (@DCPandC) September 1, 2026
They're getting closer. Aren't quite there yet. https://t.co/zp9E76yH4I
But the good news is that South Carolina doesn't really need them for the first two games of the season. The Gamecocks are already favored by over 30 points against Kent State, and are expected to be heavy favorites once again for South Carolina's Week 2 game against FCS Towson. If both guys are cleared by the time the Gamecocks open SEC play in Week 3 against Mississippi State, that would be ideal.
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Who is expected to step up in place of Peak and Stewart?
The good news is that South Carolina has several guys who can take on the starting roles at each position. Last week, new Gamecock offensive coordinator Kendal Briles told reporters that at left tackle Dayne Arnett, Shed Sarratt, Seth Smith and true freshman Darius Gray were rotating well in the starting spot.
Arnett has the most experience of the group, spending the last two seasons at DII powerhouse Ferris State. But Sarratt saw playing time along the offensive line as a true freshman last season, and is expected to have a much better handle on things as a sophomore. Smith, who transferred from Northern Arizona, made 25 starts across five seasons.
As for the EDGE rushers, senior Caleb Herring is expected to start, and South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White can play Arkansas State transfer Drew Collins or redshirt freshman Jaquavious Dodd in Stewart's spot. There is a chance that true freshman Julian Walker gets plenty of reps, as well.
After a 4-8 season, it's certainly not ideal for South Carolina to be without two of its biggest stars for Week 1. But thanks to three relatively manageable games to start the season, there's no reason for either of them to rush back and play before they are physically ready.
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