Dylan Stewart Returns From Suspension and Sacks Florida Quarterback

South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart returned to action against No. 16 Florida on Saturday, October 10, 2026, and recorded his first sack of the season at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. The sophomore defensive standout rejoined the Gamecocks after a suspension stemming from misconduct during a September 26 loss to Alabama.

Stewart made an immediate contribution in the first quarter, bringing down Florida quarterback Aaron Philo for a loss on third-and-15 from the Gators' 25-yard line with approximately four minutes remaining in the period, according to Saturday Down South.

The sack marked an important statistical milestone for Stewart, who entered the matchup without a sack in his first two appearances of the 2026 season. He recorded 4.5 sacks and a team-leading 12 tackles for loss across 11 appearances in 2025, establishing himself as a prominent defensive prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Stewart's return followed disciplinary action by South Carolina and the Southeastern Conference after the Gamecocks' 49-18 defeat against Alabama on September 26. He was penalized for punching Crimson Tide tight end Josh Ford after a touchdown and was also involved in a heated exchange with South Carolina coaches after resisting a substitution.

Head coach Shane Beamer publicly condemned Stewart's conduct following the Alabama game, emphasizing that the incident violated the program's expectations.

"I saw the play that he got the penalty on — I didn't see it until just now and that's unacceptable," Beamer said. "That's not how we do things around here, and I'm embarrassed to see that. Because that's not what we're about."

The SEC and South Carolina announced a joint one-game suspension on September 28. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said the punishment reflected the seriousness of Stewart's actions and warned that further misconduct would carry stronger consequences.

"Dylan Stewart's egregious contact reflects behavior that is unacceptable and not aligned with the standards of the Southeastern Conference," Sankey said. "Such action against an opponent carries a serious risk of injury and has no place in our conference competition. This suspension is appropriate, and any future misconduct by Dylan Stewart will result in more severe disciplinary action."

Before the joint suspension was announced, Beamer had also suspended Stewart indefinitely. The linebacker missed South Carolina's game against Kentucky and was excluded from team activities during the following week. He returned to practice on Tuesday as the Gamecocks prepared for Florida, although the coaching staff initially left his availability undecided.

Beamer described accountability and player development as important responsibilities alongside winning games, explaining that the disciplinary process was intended to help Stewart learn from the incident.

"My job as a head coach, I know, it's to win football games, but it's also to help young men and help them grow," Beamer said.

Stewart's participation against Florida followed his return to practice and the team's assessment of his progress after the suspension. His availability had remained uncertain earlier in the week as the coaching staff evaluated his readiness to return.

"He was at practice today," Beamer said. "His status for Saturday has not been determined. That will be determined as we go throughout the week."

Stewart's disciplinary absence came after an injury-affected start to his season. He missed South Carolina's first two games while recovering from a back injury that had sidelined him during spring practice and the summer. He made his 2026 debut against Mississippi State on September 19.

Despite his limited early-season playing time, Stewart entered the campaign with substantial professional prospects. Bleacher Report's NFL scouting department ranked him No. 5 overall on its draft prospect board released September 22, identifying him as one of the leading players to watch for the 2027 NFL Draft.

South Carolina entered the Florida matchup with a 2-3 overall record and an 0-3 mark in SEC play. The Gamecocks' defense ranked 102nd among 138 Football Bowl Subdivision programs in points allowed per game, according to Bleacher Report.