South Carolina heads into 2026 with one of the top defensive ends in the country anchoring its front line - and that’s no small luxury. Dylan Stewart returns as the Gamecocks’ headliner up front, a disruptive force who’s already shown flashes of elite potential. But once you look beyond Stewart, the depth chart at defensive end gets thin - and fast.
A lot of familiar names from last season are gone. Bryan Thomas Jr., who started opposite Stewart and led the team with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss, has exhausted his eligibility.
He was a steady presence off the edge and finished second on the team in TFLs, giving South Carolina a reliable bookend to Stewart. That kind of production doesn’t just get replaced overnight.
Desmond Umeozulu, another key piece in last year’s rotation, transferred to Alabama in January. He had his best season as a junior, tallying 19 tackles, including two for loss and a sack. It wasn’t eye-popping, but he was a consistent rotational contributor who helped keep the pressure coming when the starters needed a breather.
Jatius Geer and Demon Clowney - both of whom played meaningful snaps - are also out of eligibility. Between them, they combined for 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. Add all that up, and it’s a significant chunk of production walking out the door.
So who’s left behind Stewart?
There are two names still in the room: Jaquavious Dodd and Anthony Addison. Both saw the field as true freshmen last year, but only sparingly.
In total, they combined for just two tackles and a sack across six games. That’s not much experience, and certainly not enough to feel confident about the depth heading into spring ball.
The Gamecocks are also adjusting to some coaching turnover. Sterling Lucas, who previously oversaw the edge group, is now on staff at LSU. In his place, first-year assistant Deion Barnes steps in with the task of rebuilding a position group that’s suddenly short on proven options.
The good news? Stewart is still here - and when healthy, he’s a game-changer.
The former five-star recruit played through a back injury during the second half of the 2025 season, operating on a limited snap count. Even then, his presence was felt.
If he can stay on the field for a full season, he has the kind of talent to carry the position group while the younger guys find their footing.
Still, this is the biggest question mark on South Carolina’s defense heading into 2026. The rest of the unit looks relatively stable, but edge rusher is a different story. Barnes will need to develop the young talent quickly, and the Gamecocks may have to get creative with scheme and rotations to generate consistent pressure.
There’s potential - but right now, it’s mostly unproven. And in the SEC, unproven can get exposed in a hurry.