The South Carolina Gamecocks are looking to rebound after a down 4-8 season last year in Columbia. One way to do that is having two of the Gamecocks' biggest stars, offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak and disruptive EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart, ready and healthy for Week 1.
On Tuesday, head coach Shane Beamer was on-site in Tampa, Fla., for the Gamecocks' annual appearance for SEC Media Days. Speaking with a radio station before his appearance at the main podium, Beamer gave some positive updates on both guys.
“Both were in the facility this morning," Beamer said on Tuesday via Gamecock Central. “Peak is actually running. Dylan will take another step in his journey next week and should crank it up. Peak, I watched him with my own eyes, did 40 reps of what we call walk-and-press in the weight room, and if you ask any of our players, it’s god-awful and horrible. He did 40 reps of it today."
Stewart suffered a back injury that he played through most of the 2025 season, although he didn't miss any games due to the injury. The setback kept him out of South Carolina's spring practices as he continued through his rehab. Peak was one of the highest rated players that Coach Beamer landed from the transfer portal last cycle. He unfortunately suffered a knee injury during a team pick-up basketball game in the spring. He has also missed spring practices due to the injury, and has been working to get back to full strength.
“They’re on track," Beamer continued via GC. "And we’ll see where they are from a check-up standpoint here at the end of the month going into August, and hopefully they’ll be ready to rock and roll once we get into the season.”
As you can see, Coach Beamer sounds cautiously optimistic about both guys, but neither of them appear to be fully cleared just yet.
One of the best news for South Carolina fans is that Peak is running since his knee injury. Peak spent the first three seasons at N.C. State before transferring to South Carolina for his senior season. With the Wolfpack, he was one of the best pass-protection lineman in the ACC last season, giving up just four sacks in over 1,000 snaps at left tackle. He is expected to give a huge boost to returning starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who was sacked a career-high 43 sacks last season.
Stewart will be a junior this season. He combined for 56 total tackles with three passes defended and six forced fumbles over his two seasons. He had a career-high 6.5 sacks as a true freshman, but finished last season with just 4.5 on the year.
While the updates from Coach Beamer are encouraging, obviously most fans will be eager to know whether or not both guys will be ready to start fall camp next month. South Carolina is scheduled to start fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 6.
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