South Carolina star edge rusher Dylan Stewart has been suspended indefinitely from the football program, head coach Shane Beamer announced Sunday, following a chaotic performance during the Gamecocks’ 49-18 loss at No. 8 Alabama.
What Happened
Beamer confirmed the suspension after the Alabama game, saying Stewart won’t play when South Carolina hosts Kentucky on Oct. 3. A decision on Stewart’s longer-term future with the program is expected within the next day or two.
Stewart’s trouble started early. His late hit on Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell in the first half extended a Crimson Tide drive, and Beamer confronted him on the sideline as he came off the field. Later in the game, Stewart refused to come off the field when the coaching staff tried to sub him out for Julian Walker, forcing coaches to pull him out physically.
The breaking point came in the fourth quarter. After Alabama scored a touchdown to push its lead to 42-18, Stewart threw a punch at Crimson Tide tight end Josh Ford’s helmet. Officials didn’t appear to see it, and he wasn’t penalized.
Beamer’s Response
Beamer didn’t mince words in his Sunday press conference. He said the suspension goes beyond just the punch, calling it “unacceptable” and emphasizing that accountability is a core value in the program. Beamer added that he’ll personally decide what Stewart’s future with the team looks like.
He also addressed the sideline blow-up, noting that heated exchanges between players and coaches aren’t unusual in a competitive environment, something he’s seen throughout his coaching career at programs like Georgia, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Context: A Tough Season and a Key Player
The timing stings for South Carolina. Stewart, along with quarterback LaNorris Sellers and receiver Nyck Harbor, was one of the program’s top offseason retention priorities, and he’d only recently returned from injury — Saturday was just his second game back after missing the season’s first two weeks with a back injury.
A five-star recruit out of Washington, D.C., Stewart posted 23 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles as a true freshman in 2024, establishing himself as one of the more promising young pass rushers in the SEC. He and Sellers both turned down interest from other programs to stay at South Carolina, announcing their decisions in December 2025.
But the suspension lands at a rough moment for the Gamecocks program as a whole. The loss to Alabama dropped South Carolina to 1-9 in their last 10 SEC games, and the team now sits at 2-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play, with three straight games against ranked opponents looming as Beamer’s job security comes under increasing scrutiny.
Stewart will sit out Saturday’s home game against No. 24 Kentucky at minimum, with more clarity on his standing expected in the coming days.
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