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Dylan Stewart is playing for South Carolina football vs Florida, back after suspension

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GAINESVILLE — South Carolina football star edge rusher Dylan Stewart is back and available to play against No. 15 Florida.

Stewart was suspended indefinitely by coach Shane Beamer on Sept. 27 after he was involved in several incidents during the Alabama game, including punching tight end Josh Ford in the helmet for a personal foul penalty.

He returned to the team and practice this week, traveled with the team, is in uniform warming up and is on the dress list for the Gamecocks (2-3, 0-3 SEC).

Kickoff against the Gators (4-1, 2-1) on Oct. 10 is set for 12:45 p.m. ET (SEC Network).

Sep 26, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) makes a sidearm throw around South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart (6) at Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

(Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

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Dylan Stewart, South Carolina football edge rusher, top 2027 NFL Draft prospect

Sep 26, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) makes a sidearm throw around South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart (6) at Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

(Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Is Dylan Stewart playing against Florida?

Yes, the junior defensive starter is back after a one game suspension that began following the Week 4 loss to Alabama on Sept. 26.

Without Stewart, the Gamecocks lost 35-34 to Kentucky in overtime on Oct. 3 last week.

Stewart is considered a potential top 10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft but hasn’t played in three games this season, the first two because he was recovering from a back injury.

He started the last two years for South Carolina before hurting his back midway through his sophomore year.

The most productive way to recover was to rest, Beamer said. He missed all spring practice and pretty much all summer, ramping up in early September before taking the field Sept. 19 against Mississippi State.

Why was Dylan Stewart suspended?

The punch was the reason why the SEC also suspended Stewart for last week’s game but according to Beamer, it was a series of other things during that Alabama game as well.

Late in the game freshman Julian Walker walked onto the field and attempted to sub in for Stewart, who waved him off. When Walker continued, Stewart then pushed him back.

Walker shrugged at Stewart’s lack of cooperation before defensive ends coach Deion Barnes walked over and with help from others, eventually got Stewart off the field.

“There’s a standard of how we do things in this program … and it’s beyond the punch. The punch is unacceptable,” Beamer said Sept. 27. “But it’s some of the other stuff that isn’t how we do things in this program and accountability is a core value of this program, and we are all accountable to the standard.”

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky ‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dylan Stewart is playing for South Carolina football vs Florida, back after suspension

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