Shane Beamer and the No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks made waves this offseason by securing former five-star Ohio State quarterback Air Noland on Dec. 23. But that wasn’t the only major move for the Gamecocks. They also successfully kept star freshman defensive edge Dylan Stewart from entering the transfer portal.
In an era where NIL deals and player movement are a central part of college football, Beamer and Stewart’s team renegotiated terms midseason to ensure the 6-foot-6 defensive standout remained at South Carolina for 2025.
Dylan Stewart
Stewart has been a force on defense, recording 9.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles across 12 games. He also earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team and was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Reports from The State in November revealed that Stewart and the Gamecocks’ NIL collective, The Garnet Trust, were working on a new deal to keep the young talent in Columbia. The final agreement came just after South Carolina’s College Football Playoff aspirations were dashed, and with the opening of the transfer portal, Stewart and the Gamecocks sealed the deal.
Sources say the one-year agreement, signed on Dec. 10, could see Stewart receiving between $1 million and $1.5 million in NIL compensation. His NIL valuation stands at $1.6 million according to On3.
Stewart has had an impressive season for the Gamecocks, ranking second on the team for sacks with 6.5, and placing third among all FBS freshmen in that category. His performance is just 1.5 sacks away from tying South Carolina’s freshman sack record, held by Jadeveon Clowney. Here’s a quick look at his season stats:
- Tackles: 20
- Tackles for Loss: 9.5
- Sacks: 6.5
- Forced Fumbles: 3
- Passes Defensed: 1
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