South Carolina's Dylan Stewart makes list of college football's top playmakers
South Carolina football fans can’t wait to watch Dylan Stewart this fall. The rising sophomore EDGE had an excellent first year in garnet and black. A big season saw him earn On3’s National True Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman All-American distinction, and multiple SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. Expectations are high for year two (a ChatGPT simulation even thinks Stewart could challenge the Gamecocks’ single-season chat record), both for Stewart and for his impact on the team’s chances of having a special season.
Those high expectations are coming from all directions, including from national college football voices. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg has joined the long list of pundits high on the dynamic EDGE rusher. This week, Rittenberg published his list of the top non-quarterback playmakers in America, and Stewart made the cut.
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While Rittenberg didn’t necessarily rank his 25 playmakers, he mentioned Stewart fourth. Only Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Alabama receiver Ryan Williams showed up earlier.
Said Rittenberg about Stewart, “A five-star recruit, Stewart backed up the hype by earning freshman All-America honors and being a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award. He finished third among FBS freshmen in sacks and approached Jadeveon Clowney’s South Carolina freshman marks (eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss).”
Rittenberg also added that an SEC coordinator said Stewart was “the one everybody feared.” That statement came despite Stewart playing alongside three defensive linemen who earned selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Stewart and the Gamecocks will match up with five other players on Rittenberg’s list in 2025. Williams (Alabama wide receiver), Le’Veon Moss (Texas A&M running back), TJ Parker (Clemson EDGE), Peter Woods (Clemson defensive tackle), and R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma EDGE) all cracked the top 25. Four of those five (all but Moss) will play in front of a rabid crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium next fall.
Stewart’s first opportunity to hit the field in 2025 will come in a neutral site contest against Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks and Hokies will play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, August 31st. ESPN will broadcast the 3:00 p.m. contest, while the ESPN app makes it available via streaming.
