BREAKING NEWS: Gamecock Greatness on the Rise — South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart Secures Coveted Spot on the 2025 Walter Camp Preseason All-America Team, Cementing His Status as a Defensive Juggernaut to Watch This Season
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The buzz around Columbia just got louder, and it’s all because of one man: Dylan Stewart.
South Carolina’s rising star edge rusher has just been named to the prestigious Walter Camp Preseason All-America Team for the 2025 college football season — a monumental honor that places him among the top defensive talents in the entire nation before a single snap has even been played.
For Stewart, a player who arrived in Columbia as a five-star recruit with sky-high expectations, this recognition is more than a nod — it’s validation. Validation of the countless hours in the weight room, the grueling film sessions, and the unshakable mentality that separates the good from the elite.
A Glimpse at Greatness
The Walter Camp Football Foundation, which has honored the game’s finest since 1889, is one of the oldest and most respected All-America selections in the sport. To land a spot on its preseason list means one thing: college football is watching, and Dylan Stewart has their full attention.
At 6’5”, 250 pounds, Stewart is the prototype of the modern edge rusher — freakishly athletic, lightning off the line, and relentless when hunting down quarterbacks. But what sets him apart isn’t just raw ability. It’s his football IQ and uncanny instinct to be in the right place at the right time. That mix of skill and smarts makes him a terrifying force off the edge.
In the 2024 season, Stewart showed flashes of brilliance that turned into full-on fireworks by season’s end. Finishing with 10.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and a handful of highlight-reel moments, he quickly became the backbone of a South Carolina defense that gave opposing offenses headaches week in and week out.
National Respect, Local Hero
This All-America selection not only elevates Stewart’s personal stock — which is already rocketing toward first-round NFL Draft status — but it also shines a national spotlight on South Carolina football as a whole. The Gamecocks have quietly been building something under head coach Shane Beamer, and now, with a star like Stewart leading the charge, they’re no longer just a team to watch — they’re a team to fear.
“Dylan’s work ethic, leadership, and production on the field speak for themselves,” said Coach Beamer in a statement. “He represents everything we want in a Gamecock, and this recognition from the Walter Camp Foundation is well deserved. The best part? He’s just getting started.”
Indeed, for Stewart, the journey is far from over. With the 2025 season around the corner, the hype train is full steam ahead — and he’s in the driver’s seat.
A Leader On and Off the Field
Beyond the tackles and sacks, Stewart has emerged as a locker room leader. Teammates describe him as focused, humble, and always willing to help others improve. Despite the national attention, he’s never made it about himself.
“I just want to win,” Stewart said during spring practice. “All the awards and recognition are cool, but I’m here to help this team reach its potential. That’s what matters to me.”
That mindset — team-first, grind-always — is what makes this honor so meaningful for the South Carolina faithful. It’s not just that Stewart’s great; it’s that he’s theirs.
The Road Ahead
With the season opener set for late August, all eyes will be on how Stewart follows up this preseason accolade. He’s already on the watchlists for multiple national defensive awards, and if he stays healthy, it’s not a stretch to think he could be in the mix for the Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s best defensive player.
NFL scouts will be watching closely. Many already view Stewart as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft — and with this Walter Camp recognition, his draft stock just got another major boost.
Final Thoughts
Dylan Stewart’s selection to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America Team isn’t just a personal victory — it’s a message to the rest of college football: South Carolina is coming, and they’ve got a star at the helm.
For fans of the garnet and black, 2025 could be something special. And with Stewart anchoring the defense, the dream of shaking up the SEC and making noise on the national stage suddenly feels very, very real.
Get ready. Dylan Stewart isn’t just living up to the hype — he’s redefining it.
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