As we look ahead to the 2027 NFL draft, it’s almost universally expected that Dillon Stewart, the South Carolina Gamecocks edge rusher, will be a top-10 selection. However, an incident that occurred on Saturday has complicated the conversation around him.
In the Gamecocks’ recent 49-14 defeat to Alabama, Stewart was ejected for punching tight end Josh Ford’s helmet. Following the ejection, he had a confrontation with coaches on the sideline, which has now led to an indefinite suspension announced by South Carolina’s head coach, Shane Beamer, in a press conference.
Beamer commented, “I’ll make the decision on what his future looks like beyond this week in the next day or so. We’re still having meetings and talking with him, but he won’t be playing this week against Kentucky. There are standards in place for our program, and last night’s actions didn’t meet them.” He further added, “It’s not just the punch. The punch itself is simply unacceptable.”
While Beamer acknowledged that punches do happen in football, he stressed that accountability is essential in their program. “He’s not the first to throw a punch, and he won’t be the last. But it’s the other actions—this isn’t how we do things,” he remarked.
Stewart made a name for himself as a freshman, recording 6.5 sacks and 23 total tackles in 2024. The following year, he posted 4.5 sacks and 33 tackles, earning a second-team All-SEC selection as well as honorable mention for All-American from Phil Steele.
At this point, there’s uncertainty around when Stewart might see the field again this season. After the loss to Alabama, South Carolina’s record fell to 2-2, and they are gearing up to face Kentucky this Saturday.
