South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart is on track to play this Saturday if things continue to progress in the correct direction, CBS Sports' Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz report. Stewart returned to team activities on Monday after serving a one-game suspension from the SEC for striking an Alabama player in the Gamecocks' loss to the Crimson Tide. In addition to punishment from the conference, Stewart is currently on an indefinite suspension from Beamer.
"He came back today and was in the 8 a.m. team meeting we had this morning, and he was at practice," Beamer said. "As I've told him and the team, his status will be determined as we go throughout the week." Stewart was a five-star recruit in the Class of 2024 and one of the most significant recruits of the Beamer era at South Carolina. The junior posted a combined 22.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in his first two seasons with the program.
He has yet to record a sack over two games as he works his way back from injury. "I do believe my job as the head coach is to win football games, but it's also to help young men and help them grow," Beamer said. "Last week was a learning lesson from him and I (hope) there was growth from that.
He's a good young man that I care a lot about. He's not, and I'm not condoning his actions in Tuscaloosa at all, and it's unacceptable, but he's not the first person that has ever punched a player in a game, and he won't be the last." Stewart's return would be a big on-field boost for a South Carolina team in desperate need of one. Beamer entered the season on the hot seat, and that temperature has only increased after three straight losses.
Last week's 35-34 overtime defeat to Kentucky was the team's eighth straight in the SEC and 12th setback in its last 14 games against Power Four opponents. Few coaches are facing the amount of pressure that Beamer's under right now, but he doesn't seem worried about his status heading into a Week 6 showdown at Florida. It's week to week in this league and I know that.
Right now, 2-3 is not good enough," Beamer said Tuesday. "I haven't been good enough as a head coach. We've got to get better as a football team.
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