Freshman phenom Dylan Stewart set to return to Gamecocks in 2025
Since South Carolina capped its 2024 season with a 9-3 record and a dramatic win over Clemson, it was easy to look to the second week of December — when the transfer portal official opened — and wait for the news of which players were staying and going.
On Tuesday, South Carolina got major news.
Freshman edge rusher Dylan Stewart agreed to an NIL deal with South Carolina’s collective Garnet Trust — indicating that he will remain with the Gamecocks for the 2025 season. It is the first NIL agreement announced this year by the Garnet Trust.
The State reported in November that Stewart’s representation and The Garnet Trust were in talks, and it was expected that Stewart would receive upwards of seven figures to return to South Carolina.
On3 Sports’ NIL valuation tool lists Stewart with a roster value of $1.7 million, second behind quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ $2 million.
In this day and age of college football, this is what roster retention looks like. When a season ends, it’s imperative that teams keep their best players out of the transfer portal. Rather than every player announcing via social media that they’re returning, retention is often shown through a collective publicizing an NIL deal.
The former five-star recruit from Washington, D.C., will likely be a consensus freshman All-American after recording 20 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a trio of forced fumbles. According to Pro Football Focus, Stewart graded out as the fifth-best pass-rushing edge in all of college football — regardless of class.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 10:26 AM.
