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Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay.
Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans.
So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.
Dylan Stewart enters the 2026 season as one of the most accomplished young defenders in college football. Through two seasons at South Carolina, he has earned Freshman All-American honors, SEC Defensive Newcomer of the Year recognition, and Second-Team All-SEC accolades while producing 22.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
The film shows a player with a strong athletic foundation. Stewart gets off the ball well, possesses good length, and has the agility to stress offensive tackles around the edge. His bend allows him to work underneath blockers and challenge the outside shoulder of offensive linemen, while his first-step quickness consistently forces opponents to react early in the rep.
One of the more encouraging aspects of Stewart's game is that he appears far from a finished product. While his athletic traits are evident, his technique is still developing. He flashes a rip move and has the flexibility necessary to win around the edge, but there are times when his balance betrays him while attempting to turn the corner. The encouraging part is that he recovers quickly and continues working through the play rather than remaining on the ground.
South Carolina has also trusted Stewart with responsibilities away from the line of scrimmage. He has been asked to work into the flats and handle underneath coverage assignments. The athletic ability is present for those duties, but his processing in coverage remains inconsistent. There are occasions where he appears caught between attacking downhill and fully committing to his coverage responsibility. When running backs release into his area, he can become overly physical rather than relying on positioning and technique.
What stands out most is the combination of production and upside. Stewart has already produced at a high level in the SEC while still showing areas where his game can continue to mature. His athletic traits often place him in favorable situations, and further technical refinement could help him become a more complete and consistent defender.
Among the edge defenders entering the season, Stewart belongs firmly in the upper tier of prospects. The production is already there, the athletic profile is evident on film, and there is still meaningful room for growth. That combination makes him one of the more intriguing defensive players to monitor during the 2026 campaign.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2027 Summer Scouting Report on South Carolina's Dylan Stewart
Continue reading...
Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans.
So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.
Background Info
- 6-foot-5, 245 pounds
- Junior
- Washington, D.C. native
- Friendship Collegiate Academy graduate
- Political Science major
- 2025 Second-Team All-SEC selection
- 2025 Honorable Mention All-American
- 2024 Freshman All-American
- 2024 Freshman All-SEC selection
- 2024 SEC Defensive Newcomer of the Year
- Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year finalist
- Under Armour All-American
Notable Career Stats Heading Into 2026
- 56 career tackles
- 22.5 tackles for loss
- 11.0 sacks
- 6 forced fumbles
- 2 fumble recoveries
- 3 pass breakups
- Started 22 games in his first two seasons
- Appeared in 24 career games
Notable Numbers From PFF Heading Into 2026
- 88 career pressures
- 12 quarterback hits
- 61 hurries
- 91.4 pass-rush grade in 2024
- 70.3 pass-rush grade in 2025
- 79.0 run-defense grade in 2025
- 80.9 overall defensive grade in 2024
- 73.6 overall defensive grade in 2025
Strengths
- Good first-step quickness
- Good length
- Agile athlete
- Effective bend around the edge
- Uses a rip move
- Recovers quickly when he loses balance
- Productive pass rusher
- Creates splash plays
- Forces turnovers
- Comfortable pursuing in space
- Proven SEC production
- High athletic ceiling
Weaknesses
- Technique remains a work in progress
- Balance can become inconsistent when cornering
- Coverage awareness needs refinement
- Can hesitate in underneath zone responsibilities
- Tendency to become overly physical when matching running backs releasing into routes
- Pass-rush plan can be inconsistent
- Athletic traits currently outpace technical development
Player Summary
Dylan Stewart enters the 2026 season as one of the most accomplished young defenders in college football. Through two seasons at South Carolina, he has earned Freshman All-American honors, SEC Defensive Newcomer of the Year recognition, and Second-Team All-SEC accolades while producing 22.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
The film shows a player with a strong athletic foundation. Stewart gets off the ball well, possesses good length, and has the agility to stress offensive tackles around the edge. His bend allows him to work underneath blockers and challenge the outside shoulder of offensive linemen, while his first-step quickness consistently forces opponents to react early in the rep.
One of the more encouraging aspects of Stewart's game is that he appears far from a finished product. While his athletic traits are evident, his technique is still developing. He flashes a rip move and has the flexibility necessary to win around the edge, but there are times when his balance betrays him while attempting to turn the corner. The encouraging part is that he recovers quickly and continues working through the play rather than remaining on the ground.
South Carolina has also trusted Stewart with responsibilities away from the line of scrimmage. He has been asked to work into the flats and handle underneath coverage assignments. The athletic ability is present for those duties, but his processing in coverage remains inconsistent. There are occasions where he appears caught between attacking downhill and fully committing to his coverage responsibility. When running backs release into his area, he can become overly physical rather than relying on positioning and technique.
What stands out most is the combination of production and upside. Stewart has already produced at a high level in the SEC while still showing areas where his game can continue to mature. His athletic traits often place him in favorable situations, and further technical refinement could help him become a more complete and consistent defender.
Among the edge defenders entering the season, Stewart belongs firmly in the upper tier of prospects. The production is already there, the athletic profile is evident on film, and there is still meaningful room for growth. That combination makes him one of the more intriguing defensive players to monitor during the 2026 campaign.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2027 Summer Scouting Report on South Carolina's Dylan Stewart
Continue reading...
