South Carolina entered its matchup with Alabama in Tuscaloosa trailing 14-0 after the opening quarter, while questions surrounding defensive end Dylan Stewart’s availability quickly became a talking point among Gamecocks fans.
Stewart saw the field for only four defensive snaps during the first quarter, leaving some supporters frustrated as South Carolina struggled against the Crimson Tide.
One fan voiced their frustration on social media, tweeting, “Worst South Carolina secondary I’ve seen in a long time Dylan Stewart getting paid to play 2 snaps last 4 weeks”
Another referenced Stewart’s reported NIL valuation, posting, “$2 million man Dylan Stewart no where to be found so far”
ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregor provided some clarity on Stewart’s situation before kickoff. She reported that the edge rusher was expected to play only 10 to 15 snaps against Alabama after dealing with “upper glute soreness” during the week.
According to McGregor, Stewart was expected to be used primarily in key third-down situations rather than playing his usual workload.
His limited involvement continued to draw attention during the game. One X user noted, “I know he’s on a limited snap count today, but I haven’t seen Dylan Stewart at all. He just checked in for a play before USC coaches pulled him out before the snap.”