The South Carolina Gamecocks' fall camp has not been off to a great start injury-wise to say the least. On Wednesday, On3's Chris Low reported that two of South Carolina's biggest stars in offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak and Dylan Stewart are likely unable to be ready to play for the Gamecocks' season opener against Kent State on Sept. 5.
NEW: South Carolina stars Dylan Stewart and Jacarrius Peak are unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, @Clowfb reports. https://t.co/7mit0uyllY pic.twitter.com/fEwdJ3VCYh
— On3 (@On3) August 19, 2026
"Neither are long-term injuries," Coach Beamer said via On3. "They’re going to play and want to play. I just don’t know that it’s realistic to think they will be back for the start of the season.”
The news comes as a bit of a surprise, as Coach Beamer has been positive about both guys' rehabs throughout the offseason. Peak suffered a knee injury in February from a pick-up basketball game with some of his South Carolina teammates. Stewart, meanwhile, has been rehabbing from a back injury he played through most of last season.
However, neither player has been cleared for full-go practices just yet. When asked about how both guys are progressing, Beamer told reporters earlier this week how they remain "on track:"
"(Jacarrius) Peak and (Dylan) Stewart, I know, are always the hot questions, and they continue to be on track," Beamer said via Gamecock Central. "They each have benchmarks that they’re accomplishing each week and checkups that they have with doctors and specialists, and both of them had those last week, and everything was positive and ahead of schedule in some ways. So they’re both eager to get back out there and are closer and closer each and every day since I’ve seen you guys last.”
The news of both Peak and Stewart not being able to suit up for South Carolina Week 1 marks a brutal stretch of injury news for the Gamecocks so far during fall camp. Earlier this week, Coach Beamer confirmed that two of his receivers in Jayden Sellers and Jayden Gibson were out for the season after suffering lower-leg injuries.
The slightly good news for both guys is that apparently Coach Beamer expects both guys to be back at some point this season. South Carolina also opens with three relatively easy opponents, in non-conference Kent State and Towson before opening SEC play against Mississippi State on Sept. 19. South Carolina's tough schedule stretch begins Sept. 26 with a road game against Alabama. If both or one of Peak or Stewart can get back in time for that game, that could be the best case scenario.
Both guys are crucial for South Carolina to succeed this season. Peak was one of the highest-rated players that Beamer signed in his transfer portal class, allowing just seven sacks across over 2,000 snaps during his time at NC State. Stewart, even playing through the injury last season, has accounted for 11 sacks across his two seasons with 56 total tackles and three forced fumbles.
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