Dylan Stewart named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List 

South Carolina sophomore EDGE Dylan Stewart has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. Named after former Penn linebacker Chuck Bednarik, the award is given to the best defensive player in college football.

Press release from USC Athletics

COLUMBIA, S.C. (August 11, 2025) – University of South Carolina sophomore edge rusher Dylan Stewart has been named to 31^st Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Club announced today. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football.

Stewart, a 6-5, 245-pounder from Washington, D.C. earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors last season after recording 10.5 tackles for loss including 6.5 sacks in his first season with the Garnet & Black. He was also a finalist for the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year award and was a member of the SEC All-Freshman team in 2024. This season, Stewart has been named a preseason All-SEC first team selection by the media, is on the watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Bronko Nagurski Award and was named a first-team preseason All-American by The Sporting News.

Stewart was also named to the ESPN preseason All-America team today.

The Bednarik Award is named after Chuck Bednarik, a legendary two-way player for the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Eagles. The award recognizes defensive players who demonstrate exceptional skill, leadership, and impact on the game.

Stewart and the Gamecocks will open the 2025 season in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, August 31, when they face the Virginia Tech Hokies out of the ACC. Game time is set for 3 pm and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

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