Stewart Named to The Lombardi Award™ 2026 Preseason Watch List

HOUSTON, Texas – Junior EDGE Dylan Stewart was one of 54 players named to the The Lombardi Award™ 2026 Preseason Watch List the Rotary Club of Houston Announced on Tuesday. Celebrating its 53^rd anniversary this season, The Lombardi Award™ recognizes the nation’s premier linemen and linebackers.

The distinguished group on this year’s watch list represents the finest talent from every FBS conference and independent, selected based on their past performances and potential for the upcoming season.

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-2^nd 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 also tabbed a 2026 First Team Walter Camp Preseason All-American, 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 Nagurski Trophy List Watch for the second consecutive fall.

Stewart is one of 16 players representing the Southeastern Conference on this year’s watch list for the prestigious award.

The Lombardi Award™ has been presented in Houston since its establishment in 1970. The 2026 award dinner is scheduled for December 9, 2026, with net proceeds from gala sponsorships, table sales and surrounding events dedicated to supporting cancer research.

The Lombardi Award™ was established in 1970 by the Rotary Club of Houston in memory of legendary coach Vince Lombardi. It is presented to outstanding linemen and linebackers who best epitomize his values of leadership, courage, performance, and discipline on and off the field. The watch list includes players who are consistently showing the values of strength, agility, and football acumen at their respective positions.

The Lombardi Award™ 2026 Preseason Watchlist

AAC
Brady Small — C — Army
Paolo Gennarelli — OG — Army

ACC
Sammy Brown — LB — Clemson
Clev Lubin — Edge — Louisville

Big 12
Cade Uluave — LB — BYU
Evan Tengesdahl — OG — Cincinnati
Shadre Hurst — OG — Houston
Terrance Carter Jr. — TE — Texas Tech
A.J. Holmes Jr. — DT — Texas Tech
Ben Roberts — LB — Texas Tech

Big Ten
Rolijah Hardy — LB — Indiana
Isaiah Jones — LB — Indiana
Carter Smith — OT — Indiana
Tyrique Tucker — DT — Indiana
Trevor Lauck — OT — Iowa
Kade Pieper — C — Iowa
John Henry Daley — DE — Michigan
Anthony Smith — DE — Minnesota
Carson Hinzman — C — Ohio State
Luke Montgomery — OG — Ohio State
Austin Siereveld — OG — Ohio State
Jamari Johnson — TE — Oregon
Iapani Laloulu — C — Oregon
Teitum Tuioti — EDGE — Oregon
Matayo Uiagalelei — EDGE — Oregon
A’Mauri Washington — DT — Oregon
Benjamin Brahmer — TE — Penn State

C-USA
Steven Demboski — C — Delaware
Baron Hopson — LB — Kennesaw State
Kolbe Fields — LB — Louisiana Tech

Independents
Anthonie Knapp — OG — Notre Dame
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa — LB — Notre Dame

MAC
Chad Schuster — OT — Western Michigan

Mountain West
Dylan LaBarbera — EDGE — Nevada
Jaxton Eck — LB — New Mexico

Pac-12
Jayden Virgin-Morgan — EDGE — Boise State

SEC
Xavier Atkins — LB — Auburn
Drew Bobo — C — Georgia
Trey’Dez Green — TE — LSU
Jordan Seaton — OT — LSU
Princewill Umanmielen — DE — LSU
Whit Weeks — LB — LSU
Cayden Green — OT — Missouri
David Stone — DT — Oklahoma
Will Echoles — DT — Ole Miss
Dylan Stewart — EDGE — South Carolina
Wendell Moe Jr. — OG — Tennessee
Rasheem Biles — LB — Texas
Trevor Goosby — OT — Texas
Colin Simmons — Edge — Texas
DJ Hicks — DT — Texas A&M
Anto Saka — DE — Texas A&M

Sun Belt
Zach Greenberg — C — James Madison
Donnie Smith — EDGE — Troy

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