Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Dylan Stewart (6) attempt to knock down a pass by Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Is it time for South Carolina Gamecocks fans to begin worrying about the health of star defensive end Dylan Stewart as the college football season approaches?
If head coach Shane Beamer‘s ever-changing answers regarding Stewart’s availability are any indication, the answer to that question is seemingly “yes.”
Stewart, who had 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season in 11 games, missed all of spring practice due to injury. But at the time, Beamer didn’t sound overly concerned.
“He just needs to rest,” Beamer said. “It’s not like we send him to a doctor, he makes a couple of adjustments, and he’s good to go. … The thing for him is just resting and getting well to be able to do the things he needs to do at the end of May.”
Later, at SEC Spring Meetings, Beamer again brushed off any concerns.
“I don’t know why there’s any thought that he wouldn’t (be ready for Week 1),’ he said. You don’t go from not really doing anything in spring practice to all of a sudden he’s (at full speed).”
Since then, however, Beamer’s tune has changed, and Stewart still isn’t back on the practice field. Meanwhile, nobody has actually clarified what exactly the issue is.
Shane Beamer Is Beginning To Sound Pessimistic About Dylan Stewart’s Return
After missing all of spring practice and not returning to the team for workouts in May, Beamer was asked at SEC Media Days in July whether the coaching staff had considered that he would miss time to start the new season.
Beamer didn’t shut down the idea.
“We treat all opponents the same. Every Saturday is a battle. But for us and for me, it will be just communication with our doctors like it’s always been,” he told reporters. “It’ll be communication with our medical team, the outside doctors. When they say they’re ready to go, then they’ll be ready to go and we will put them out there regardless of when and who.”
Now, with the season just weeks away, Beamer sounds less confident about Stewart’s status than ever before.
“Neither are long-term injuries. They’re going to play and want to play. I just don’t know that it’s realistic to think they will be back for the start of the season,” he said of Stewart and offensive lineman Jaccarius Peak.
Slow progress is better than no progress. But you have to wonder why Beamer refuses to give any sort of concrete timeline for Stewart’s return. And with a Week 4 trip to Alabama on the schedule, you have to think Gamecocks fans are beginning to sweat a little bit.