Shane Beamer liked just about everything he saw from Dylan Stewart on Saturday, and not just the splash plays.
South Carolina’s defensive end returned in the Gamecocks’ 38-19 win over Florida and filled up the stat sheet with five tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. He also helped create the pressure that led to an interception, a reminder of how disruptive he can be when he’s on the field.
Beamer said Sunday that Stewart’s presence changes the defense in obvious ways. He called Stewart “awesome throughout the game” and said the NFL is watching him “for a reason; he's a special talent.”
Beamer pointed to more than just pass-rush impact, saying Stewart “did a great job, not just against the pass, but I thought he played the run well. He fit gaps, being where he was supposed to be, played hard, straining to the ball.”
The South Carolina coach also said Stewart handled the emotional side of the game well against Florida. Beamer told him before kickoff, “The eyes are on you.
You know Florida is going to try to provoke you into things, and they're probably going to be saying things and doing things to you after the whistle.” He added, “I'm not accusing them of anything, not saying that, but, 'You've put on tape that you have to be better about handling your emotions.
You got to be poised, handle your emotions and play disciplined throughout.'” Beamer said Stewart responded the right way.
There was also a broader message from Beamer about what Stewart did during the week. He said the standard at South Carolina applies everywhere - on the field, in practice and in the classroom - and noted that the academic support staff told him Stewart had “the best week from an academic standpoint of any week he's had since he's been at South Carolina.”
Beamer said, “That says everything to me about him with the kind of week that he had. I'm just proud of him on and off the field, and the growth that took place.”
Beamer also addressed Stewart’s pregame arrival, when he was first off the bus with the coach. Beamer said he didn’t arrange it and didn’t even realize it happened until he was shown a picture. He guessed Stewart may have simply been eager to get into the locker room, adding, “I'd want him up there with me walking into the locker room as much as anyone on that team, so it was pretty cool to see.”
As for what Saturday might mean moving forward, Beamer said a dominant outing can only help Stewart and the edge-rush group around him. He referenced Stewart’s frustrations against Mississippi State and Alabama, saying Stewart was unhappy because he didn’t feel like he was making enough of an impact when he wasn’t fully healthy or conditioned. Beamer told him, “Dylan, you being 50 percent and only playing 10 plays a game, you're going to make an impact moreso than most guys.”
Now, Beamer expects even more once Stewart gets through the next couple of weeks. He said the bye week gives Stewart a chance to keep improving his conditioning and predicted, “This will be a huge couple weeks for him, and should see an even better version of him against Tennessee.”
Beamer also said he does not see a hard snap limit for Stewart. The plan against Florida was built around rotation, not restriction, with George Wilson, Caleb Herring and others part of the mix. Beamer said, “We didn't talk last week at all about keeping him under X number of plays,” and added that the staff doesn’t have a ceiling in mind: “In our minds, he's full-go.”
In Other News...
Dylan Stewarts South Carolina Return Means More Than Just Playing Again
Dylan Stewarts return to the South Carolina football team came with more weight than a normal reinstatement. After an indefinite suspension from Shane Beamer for prior on-field conduct, Stewart had to work his way back by apologizing, cleaning up his behavior and showing growth away from the field as well, including strong work in the classroom. For a program that has leaned on Beamers emphasis on accountability, the process mattered almost as much as the result.
Stewarts response in the game against Florida gave the comeback immediate substance. He was active throughout the contest, finishing with five tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles, the kind of impact that reminds everyone why his return mattered to the Gamecocks in the first place. The bigger story now is whether this becomes more than a one-game redemption and a sign of steady progress from a player South Carolina still clearly needs. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Got A Needed Recruiting Boost After That Ugly Loss
Floridas Week 6 loss to South Carolina left the Gators sitting at 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, but the day still ended with a major recruiting lift. Five-star wide receiver Easton Royal flipped his commitment from Texas to Florida, giving the Gators a headline addition at a position that always draws attention in Gainesville.
Royal arrives with plenty of buzz as the top wide receiver in the 2027 class, and the move comes at a time when Florida could use some momentum beyond the field. His recruitment also appears to be nearing its finish, which means the Gators may not have to wait long to find out whether the commitment holds. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Suddenly Has A Cornerback Decision Before Tennessee
Judge Collier leaving early against Florida forced South Carolina to sort through its cornerback depth on the fly, and Damarcus Leach ended up handling the bulk of the work at the position. The quick reshuffle put extra pressure on the secondary, but it also gave the Gamecocks a clearer look at how Leach responds when the snaps pile up.
Shane Beamer came away praising Leachs performance and pointed to the need for a third cornerback to step into a bigger role, especially with Tennessee next on the schedule. Clayton White responded by adjusting coverage to give the corners more help, and that kind of mid-game flexibility could matter again if South Carolina is going to get through the next stretch without further trouble on the back end. [Read more 🡒]