Swain/Stewart Earn Spots On The Sporting News Preseason All-America Team

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior EDGE Dylan Stewart and junior defensive back Vacari Swain were named to The Sporting News 2026 Preseason All-America squad on Thursday. Stewart was a second team honoree on the defensive line and Swain was a second team honoree as a punt returner.

Stewart started 11 games for the Gamecocks in 2025, earning All-SEC honors and honorable mention All-America distinction. He totaled 33 tackles with 4.5 sacks and a team-leading 12.0 tackles for loss. He also had eight QB hurries, two pass breakups and three forced fumbles (T-2nd in the SEC). Stewart was a unanimous Freshman All-American and finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award in 2024 after notching 23 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, which ranked third among all FBS freshmen.

A Washington, D.C. native, Stewart was tabbed a 2026 First Team Walter Camp Preseason All-American in late June. He was also named a Preseason First Team All-SEC member as voted on by media attending SEC Media Days in Tampa the week of July 20 and earned a spot on the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.

Swain was an All-SEC selection and All-American last season as a return specialist. He finished the season with 19 punt returns for 302 yards with three touchdowns, tying the program’s single-season record. Swain and Iowa’s Kaden Wtjen were the only FBS players to return three punts for touchdowns in 2025. His 15.9-yard punt return average was No. 3 in the SEC and No. 7 nationally. A native of Carrollton, Ga., Swain’s 302 punt return yards were the most by a Gamecock since Ace Sanders’ school record 429 yards in 2012. He played in 12 games with three starts at cornerback for South Carolina last season, totaling 28 tackles (24 solo), five pass breakups, two interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles.

The full list of players on The Sporting News 2026 Preseason All-America team can be found here.

The Gamecocks begin preseason camp on Friday morning with the team’s first official practice ahead of the 2026 season.

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