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The South Carolina Gamecocks believe they’ve found their next great pass rusher in freshman Dylan Stewart. The 18-year-old is already drawing comps to a past legend.
Jadeveon Clowney is arguably the best defensive lineman in program history, owning the school record for sacks in a single season. He was so dominant he owns a few records for opposing schools, too.
Clowney is still considered the highest rated high school prospect in the history of the recruiting services. He showed why immediately upon stepping foot on South Carolina’s campus.
A pass rush specialist as a freshman, he totaled eight sacks and five forced fumbles. The next year, he finished sixth in the Heisman voting, capping his season with a helmet-jarring hit against Michigan.
After his junior campaign, Jadeveon Clowney was picked first overall by the Houston Texans. Dylan Stewart is hoping he can do the same a few years down the road!
Analysts and viewers were blown away by his debut performance.
The Gamecocks faced Old Dominion on Saturday in a game that they easily could’ve lost. Stewart was one of the few bright spots in the 23-19 win.
The rookie racked up 1.5 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles, one of which led to South Carolina’s go-ahead score late in the contest.
His bend and quickness off the edge impressed college football analysts. He showed some power with that 6-6, 250-pound frame, too.
how in the world is this is a true freshman pic.twitter.com/6Jq9qghsbQ
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) September 3, 2024
Many can see a bit of Jadeveon Clowney in Dylan Stewart due to his ability to get to the passer.
Stewart, like Clowney, boasted five-star status as a high school recruit, and at one time, was considered the top overall player in his class. He signed with the Gamecocks over Ohio State and has made an immediate impact in Columbia.
He underwent a major physical transformation after one offseason in a college weight program, and it appears to have paid off!
The freshman will look to build on this performance in his SEC debut vs. Kentucky next week.