South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has indefinitely suspended star edge rusher Dylan Stewart following a series of sideline incidents and a physical altercation during the Gamecocks’ 49-18 loss to Alabama.
The disciplinary action was announced on Sunday, confirming that the junior defender will miss the team’s upcoming matchup against Kentucky. Beamer stated that he is evaluating Stewart’s long-term future with the program and expects to make a final decision regarding his status within the next 24 to 48 hours.
“I’ll make the decision on what his future looks like beyond this week here in the next day or so. Still having some meetings and talking with him, but he won’t play this week versus Kentucky,” Beamer told reporters. “There’s a standard of how we do things in our program and that was not it last night.”
Incidents During the Alabama Loss
The decision to suspend Stewart stems from multiple heated moments caught on camera during Saturday’s conference matchup. During the fourth quarter, Stewart threw a punch at the helmet of Alabama tight end Josh Ford following a Crimson Tide touchdown. While officials missed the play on the field, television replays clearly captured the action.
Earlier in the contest, Stewart was seen engaged in heated verbal exchanges with South Carolina’s coaching staff. Footage showed the edge rusher arguing with assistants after being pulled from the field and attempting to sit away from his teammates on the bench. Beamer was also spotted earlier in the game shouting at Stewart for loafing toward the sideline following a penalty.
Program Standards and Future Outlook
Beamer emphasized that accountability remains a core pillar of the South Carolina football program, noting that the punishment extends far beyond just the missed punch.
“It’s beyond the punch. The punch is unacceptable. He’s not the first person to ever throw a punch in a football game and he won’t be the last. But it’s some of the other stuff that isn’t how we do things in this program,” Beamer said.
Stewart entered the season as one of the Gamecocks’ top defensive standouts and a heavily watched NFL draft prospect, having recorded 11 sacks over his first two seasons. However, with South Carolina navigating a difficult start to the year, the coaching staff is drawing a firm line on discipline as they prepare to face Kentucky.
