South Carolina’s trip to Alabama was already unraveling on the scoreboard when Dylan Stewart’s night turned into a full-blown sideline issue.
The Gamecocks’ star edge rusher drew Shane Beamer’s ire in the first half after a late hit on Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell kept a drive alive, and the coach confronted him as he came off the field. Later, Stewart was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fourth quarter after punching Alabama tight end Josh Ford after a whistle.
Stewart was not ejected for the punch.
“We're both fiery and competitive guys, and it's a fiery, competitive environment, and that's what being in the arena is like,” Beamer said when asked about the first-half confrontation.
The moment only added to a rough night for Stewart, who is viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft and is widely considered the top edge talent in this year’s draft cycle alongside Texas standout Colin Simmons. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he’s been described as the closest college football has seen to Myles Garrett in recent years.
This was only Stewart’s second game of the season, and he was used sparingly after missing the entire offseason and fall camp because of back issues. South Carolina had him on a pitch count, and he was on the field only in situational spots against Alabama.
Beamer later said he had not realized the extent of the punch during the game.
“I saw the play that he got the penalty on. I didn't see it until just now, and that's unacceptable,” Beamer said of Stewart’s punch.
“That's not how we do things around here, and I'm embarrassed to see that because that's not what we're about. Didn't see it during the game.
I knew we had a penalty. I didn't know what happened.
“We got a lot of fiery, emotional, competitive guys, and I love that. When you're in the arena, emotions are high. I love the way that he plays, but we got to make sure, not just Dylan, but with all of our players, that we make sure it's not affecting us in a negative way.”
Alabama had the game under control well before Stewart’s frustrations boiled over, leading 35-3 in the first half and 42-18 midway through the fourth quarter.
Ford, for his part, took the exchange in stride.
“Man, he's a great player,” Ford said. “We had a lot of fun today.
I think he punched me three times, but it was awesome. Good battle.”
Stewart was later seen in the fourth quarter refusing to come off the field, and South Carolina’s coaching staff eventually had to force him off after subbing him out for freshman Julian Walker.
When asked afterward whether Stewart’s actions hurt the Gamecocks on the road, Beamer said he did not think so.
“No. I saw Dylan respond in the second half,” Beamer said.
“We weren't sure at halftime if he was going to be able to go back out and play, from a health standpoint, but I thought he really, really gutted it out. I was proud of his response and some of the plays that he made.
Having said that, the emotions, it's OK to play with emotion, but not be emotional.”
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