Freshman edge rusher Dylan Stewart and freshman offensive lineman Josiah Thompson made their collegiate debuts during South Carolina's game against Old Dominion on Saturday, playing pivotal roles in the Gamecocks' 23-19 win.
Thompson and Stewart were the two-highest ranked signees in South Carolina's 2024 high school recruiting class, according to 247Sports. The class was ranked 22nd overall in the country by the recruiting service.
The two are also among the highest-rated high school recruits to ever sign with the South Carolina. 247Sports has both listed among the 10 highest ranked recruits in school history, with Stewart at sixth overall and Thompson at ninth overall. The list also includes sophomore wide receiver Nyck Harbor and multiple notable former Gamecocks, including linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and running back Marcus Lattimore.
While Stewart didn't earn a start against the Monarchs, he finished as one of South Carolina's top performers after recording 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
“I was very excited (for my debut),” Stewart said following Saturday's win. “I’ve been waiting since January, since I got here.”
Stewart helped South Carolina's defense gain momentum early in the contest. With a little over seven minutes left in the first half, Stewart sacked Old Dominion redshirt junior quarterback Grant Wilson for a 10-yard loss, resulting in a fumble that Wilson recovered.
That would not be the only big play Stewart would make in the game. Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Gamecocks trailing 19-16 , Stewart strip-sacked Wilson and forced him to fumble again. South Carolina retained possession of the ball inside the Monarchs' 5 yard line and would score a game-winning touchdown two plays later.
After his performance, Stewart and fifth-year edge rusher Kyle Kennard were both named SEC Defensive Linemen of the Week. Kennard registered 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in the season-opener.
Stewart's individual accolades for his debut performance extend beyond the SEC. He was named Freshman of the Week by both On3 and 247Sports. Stewart was ranked as the No. 2 defensive end and No. 19 overall player in the class of 2024 by 247Sports.
Pro Football Focus, a website that quantifies players' individual performances by giving them a "grade" on a scale from 0 to 100, also gave Stewart an overall 97.4 rating. The score was the highest received by any NCAA Division I FBS defensive end during college football's opening weekend, and it was the highest rating given to a defensive end from a Power Five conference since 2020.
Kennard said Stewart's strong individual performance ultimately helped him and the defense as a whole.
“I’m super proud of him tonight. He had a great game and been through a lot since he’s been here,” Kennard said. “As far as me, I feel like that goes into Dylan and the rest of the D-line again. They held their gaps and put me in a position to do what I had to do, so that’s a testament to the whole defense, really.”
Thompson, on the other hand, did earn a start at left tackle for Saturday's game. He was tasked with helping protect the blind side of redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who also made his first career start against the Monarchs.
Thompson and freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett became the first true freshmen to start for the Gamecocks in a season-opener since defensive backs Jammie Robinson and John Dixon accomplished the feat in 2019.
"We're not the only school in the country playing true freshmen," head football coach Shane Beamer said. "We've got to continue to help them and put them in position to make plays."
Thompson entered the 2024 season as one of the nation's premiere freshman offensive linemen. Thompson was the No. 37 overall prospect in the class of 2024 and the No. 2 offensive tackle, according to 247Sports. The Dillion, South Carolina, native received offers from high-caliber programs like Alabama, Clemson and Georgia.
Thompson also contributed to the Gamecocks' ability to showcase an improved rushing attack the team's first game. South Carolina ran the ball 56 times for 174 yards against the Old Dominion defense.
In its season opener against the Monarchs, South Carolina's offensive line as a whole surrendered four sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Despite the numbers, Beamer said he was proud of the group's effort.
"The offensive line played their butts off tonight," Beamer said. "Are there gonna be some plays that they want back? Absolutely."
South Carolina (1-0, 0-0 SEC) will continue its season on Saturday as it travels on the road to face Kentucky (1-0, 0-0 SEC). Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on ABC.