South Carolina football picked up national recognition on Tuesday as two key defensive standouts earned spots on the Associated Press preseason All-America team.
Sophomore edge rusher Dylan Stewart was selected to the first team, while junior defensive back Nick Emmanwori Kilgore claimed a spot on the second team.
Stewart’s honor comes after a breakout freshman campaign in 2024 where he tallied 6.5 sacks and quickly emerged as one of the SEC’s most disruptive young defenders. His performance earned him FWAA Freshman All-American, SEC All-Freshman Team recognition, and a finalist nod for the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award. This summer, he also landed on the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist, awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive player.
“Stewart is continuing to gain preseason recognition from the national media after a strong performance last year,” the AP noted, highlighting his rapid rise as one of college football’s brightest young defenders.
Meanwhile, Kilgore’s second-team selection reflects his consistency and playmaking ability in the secondary. The junior safety hauled in five interceptions last season, tying the program’s highest single-season total in the past two decades. His ball-hawking presence gives the Gamecocks a veteran leader on the back end of the defense heading into 2025.
The Gamecocks open their season on Aug. 31 against Virginia Tech in the Aflac Kickoff Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where Stewart, Kilgore, and the rest of South Carolina’s defense will look to set the tone for a season filled with heightened expectations.
