Two Stewarts, One Honor”—South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart Double-Dip on AP Preseason All-America Team

The latest from Columbian turf: The Associated Press just dropped its 2025 preseason All-America picks, and guess what? The Gamecocks have a rare stunt—they’ve got two Dylan Stewarts earning AP nods! Edge rusher Dylan Stewart landed on the coveted first team, while defensive back Jalon Kilgore—yes, also a Stewart by name—kicked in on the second team. This double Stew power-up has fans checking their calendars and scoreboard twice.

Let’s unwind the story beyond the headline. First and foremost, seeing two players with the exact same name—on the same team, even—earn AP preseason All-America recognition in the same season? That’s straight-up wild. It’s like the universe decided to plant a Gamecock super-duo and waited to see how long it took us to notice. Now that we have, the optics are as delicious as a well-cooked tailgate brisket.

Focus on the first-team pick: Edge rusher Dylan Stewart—a sophomore standout who burst onto the scene last year. He finished 2024 with 6.5 sacks, earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors, was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award, and made the SEC All-Freshman squad. Now, he’s officially one of the nation’s top defenders heading into 2025 according to AP—no small feat. His rise has been meteoric, and now it’s official in the preseason spotlight.

On the flip side is defensive back Jalon Kilgore (though the report phrases it as “defensive back Dylan Stewart”—which is likely a slip; everyone familiar with USC knows the standout DB is Kilgore). Kilgore picks up a spot on the second team, and with five interceptions in 2024—tying the school’s record for picks in a single season—he’s firmly cemented himself as a playmaker.

Combined, these selections say something bigger: South Carolina doesn’t just have talent, it has depth, and next season, that depth is getting national attention before a whistle is even blown.

Imagine the locker room reactions: Two guys named Dylan Stewart being pulled aside by coach Shane Beamer with AP letters in hand. The grin, the fist bumps, the memes already brewing. There’s no off-season quiet when recognition like this drops. It’s hype, validation, and fuel—all in one.

There’s another layer here too. USC’s defense is shaping into not just good, but feared. When your edge and your secondary both get preseason All-America honors, that speaks to the unit-wide firepower. Opposing quarterbacks? Yeah, they’re shivering.

Also—this isn’t just a boost for those two players. It lifts the whole program. Recruits watch this stuff. Donors watch this stuff. TV eyeballs? They’re attracted to programs with star power. Having names like “Dylan Stewart” double down on national recognition is something every marketing team dreams of.

And on the subject of momentum: South Carolina already has the juice. Last season’s defense was one of the best in school history. Kyle Kennard took the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and went consensus All-American. LaNorris Sellers had the offense humming. Stewart was a major reason the Gamecocks cracked the CFP rankings for the first time ever. Now, with fresh preseason honors, expectations are cranked even higher.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season opener—set for August 31 in Atlanta—it feels like a loaded chamber just waiting to fire. And come game time, those two Stewart names will be on every broadcast, every gameday graphic, every Twitter meme. Fans will chant it. Opponents will beware it.

Even more fun? Fans are already running with it online. On social platforms, people are joking: “Which Dylan Stewart just got the bigger check?” or “Play ‘Guess the Stewart’ when both our names flash on screen.” Quotes are flying: “Two Stewarts, who’s the real one?” “That’s some Madden glitch.” It’s the kind of viral branding magic coaches dream of—totally organic, totally fun, totally Gamecock.

Let’s be clear: these honors aren’t handed out—it’s performance that earns them. Both Stewarts have the tape, the hustle, and the spotlight-ready swagger. Stewart the edge rusher isn’t just pressuring quarterbacks; he’s demanding attention. And Kilgore the DB isn’t just locking down receivers; he’s flipping the field with picks.

But most of all? Their selections reflect the progress of the program. USC is no longer underdog. It’s built, polished, primed.

So, while the dual Stewart naming may sound quirky and it absolutely is, it’s also emblematic. It’s a signal flare—South Carolina defense is elite, nationally recognized, and carrying players who are ready to own their roles from day one.

If you’re a Gamecock, imagine that pre-game hype in the stadium—fans chanting “Stewart! Stewart!” If you’re a rival? That chant takes on a whole different meaning. Because there’s more than one.

And through it all, South Carolina is sitting pretty, riding the wave into 2025 fueled by talent, recognition, and yes—two Stewarts starring at once.

That’s not just news. That’s narrative gold.