Stewart Named AP Preseason First Team All-American

NEW YORK – Junior EDGE Dylan Stewart was named to the 2026 Preseason Associated Press First Team All-America squad on Tuesday. He was one of 14 representatives from the Southeastern Conference on the first team.

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). He also was named to the Nagurski Trophy List Watch for the second consecutive fall, The Lombardi Award™ 2026 Preseason Watch List and the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List recently.

2026 Preseason AP All-Americans

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB — Dante Moore (Oregon)
RB — Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri)
OT — Carter Smith (Indiana), Trevor Goosby (Texas)
OG — Evan Tengesdahl (Cincinnati), Shadre Hurst (Houston)
C — Kade Pieper (Iowa)
TE — Trey’Dez Green (LSU)
WR — Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Malachi Toney (Miami), Cam Coleman (Texas)
ALL-PURPOSE — Wayne Knight (UCLA)
K — Tate Sandell (Oklahoma)

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
EDGE — Colin Simmons (Texas), Dylan Stewart (South Carolina)
DT — A’Mauri Washington (Oregon), David Stone (Oklahoma)
LB — Rasheem Biles (Texas), Xavier Atkins (Auburn), Rolijah Hardy (Indiana)
CB — Leonard Moore (Notre Dame), Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia)
S — KJ Bolden (Georgia),  Koi Perich (Oregon)
DB — Bray Hubbard (Alabama)
P — Evan Crenshaw (Troy)

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