South Carolina represented on Athlon Sports preseason All-American team

Athlon Sports has revealed its preseason All-American team. South Carolina is represented on the team as rising sophomore EDGE Dylan Stewart picked up first-team honors. He is one of four overall defensive linemen on the first-team squad. Joining Stewart on the first team are Clemson EDGE TJ Parker and tackle Peter Woods and Texas EDGE Colin Simmons.

Stewart’s inclusion isn’t shocking. Following a debut season in garnet and black in which he picked up multiple SEC and National Defensive Freshmen of the Year awards, expectations are high for No. 6. Viewed by many as the best pure pass rusher in the country, Stewart will look to hold down a defense that lost five players to the NFL Draft.

Last season, Stewart finished top six nationally among EDGEs in quarterback pressures and PFF pass rush grade. This came despite playing alongside three NFL Draft picks on the defensive line who also posted impressive stats. Nagurski Trophy winner Kyle Kennard, TJ Sanders, and Tonka Hemingway combined for 19.5 sacks and 37 tackles for loss.

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This fall, South Carolina will face off against 19 Athlon Preseason All-Americans during the regular season. Seven made the first team, six are on the second team, and six more made the third team. Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, Clemson defensive linemen TJ Parker and Peter Woods, LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, and Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York earned spots on the first team. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and wide receiver Antonio Williams, Alabama center Parker Brailsford, Texas A&M guard Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, Ole Miss linebacker/EDGE Suntarine Perkins, and LSU kick returner/wide receiver Barion Brown picked up second-team honors. On the third team, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Missouri guard Cayden Green, Clemson tackle Blake Miller and cornerback Avieon Terrell, and Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton and linebacker Deontae Lawson all will play against the Gamecocks in 2025.

The rival Clemson Tigers (6) and Alabama Crimson Tide (5) lead the way with 11 of those 19 selections. South Carolina will take on at least one Athlon Preseason All-American in seven games this year. That includes a stretch of three consecutive games against Alabama, at Ole Miss, and then at Texas A&M.

Athlon has made other preseason predictions in recent weeks. The outlet projected South Carolina as the No. 6 overall team in the SEC heading into 2025. They also ranked the Gamecocks’ quarterback room (largely due to All-American candidate LaNorris Sellers) as the No. 4 unit in all of college football. In a bit of foreshadowing, Stewart made Athlon analyst Steven Lassan’s Way-Too-Early preseason All-American team, too.

It is worth noting that South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive back Jalon Kilgore have received plenty of preseason hype this offseason, too. While neither player made the Athlon team, both Sellers and Kilgore have earned preseason All-SEC honors from other publications. Sellers has made multiple other preseason All-American teams and is a top 10 Heisman Trophy candidate. The duo have seen their names listed on early 2026 NFL Draft first-round projects, as well.

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