This season, Stewart is second on the Gamecocks in sacks (6.5), trailing fifth-year senior defensive lineman Kyle Kennard (11.5 sacks), who recently received the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, handed out annually to the country’s best defender.
Per Pro Football Focus data, Stewart ranks first on the team in total pressures (48). His 16.2 pass-rush win rate is 18th out of 194 players with at least 215 pass-rush snaps.
South Carolina’s defense, particularly its dominant front four, was crucial to the team’s better-than-expected 2024 season.
SEC media members picked the Gamecocks (9-3, fifth in SEC) to finish 13th in the conference during the preseason. They were predicted to finish directly below Florida (7-5, 10th in SEC), Kentucky (4-8, 15th in SEC) and Auburn (5-7, 14th in SEC).
According to CFB Stats, South Carolina is tied with four programs (SMU, Pittsburgh, Duke, Oregon) for the third-most sacks this season (40) and only trails Ole Miss (52) and Boise State (51).
Stewart likely would have attracted several suitors had he entered the transfer portal, but South Carolina’s ability to keep him in Columbia illustrates the program’s commitment to winning.
Pending more transfer portal moves, the Gamecocks should enter the 2025 season as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.
South Carolina finished 15th in 2024’s final CFP rankings, making it the fourth team out of the 12-team field, behind No. 11 Alabama (9-3), No. 13 Miami (10-2) and No. 14 Ole Miss (9-3).
It beat the tournament’s 12-seed, No. 16 Clemson (10-3), on the road in Week 14, 17-14, as part of a six-game win streak to end the season.
Gamecocks Central’s Chris Clark noted Stewart signed his NIL deal with Garnet Trust, which South Carolina named its official NIL partner in July 2023.
In September, the collective launched 1801 Media in partnership with The College Sports Company and NOCAP Sports.
When reporting on the venture, NIL Daily’s Caroline Maglaras wrote that the company “will allow players to generate revenue for themselves without relying on booster donations.”
Nakos also reported in September that 1801 Media had “already generated more than six figures in committed revenue intending to reach $1 million in revenue in Year One.”
South Carolina’s no longer an underdog.
Coming off a 9-3 season and armed with a top NIL collective, the Gamecocks have shown they want to play with the big boys.
