Progrums

Gamecock Duo Soars to Preseason All-SEC Glory

South Carolina stars Dylan Stewart and Nyck Harbor earned media-voted spots on the preseason All-SEC squads unveiled at SEC Media Days in Tampa. Stewart, a true freshman sensation in 2024, snagged a first-team defense selection after posting 6.5 sacks (third in FBS), 23 tackles, and 10.5 tackles for loss, then followed with 4.5 sacks and a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss in 2025. Harbor, a five-star recruit turned junior standout, landed on the third team offense after catching 30 passes for 618 yards and six touchdowns last season, including five scoring plays of 47+ yards and a school-third-best 20.6 yards per reception. Harbor also earned the Steve Spurrier Offensive MVP award, while Stewart was a unanimous Freshman All-American and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year finalist. Despite being picked to finish 11th in the SEC, the Gamecocks will lean on these two impact players to defy expectations.

If there’s one ironclad guarantee in college football, it’s that the media’s preseason love will absolutely translate into on-field dominance—right? Armed with shiny All-SEC badges months before kickoff, Stewart and Harbor are now officially licensed to terrorize practice squads, hog every ESPN highlight reel, and strike fear into vending machine operators. Forget building chemistry, learning schemes, or conditioning in triple-digit heat; the real key to success is checking the “preseason honor” box. South Carolina fans, rejoice: you’ve got media validation to tide you over until that first fumble, missed blocking assignment, or faceplant makes the highlight real. On from here, it’s all downhill—er, uphill?—toward crushing expectations that the pundits set for you. Roll Tide? More like Roll Out the Red Carpet.