Dan Mullen raves about South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart's impact as a freshman

In three weeks of action, a bevy of top-rated freshman have made big impacts for their teams across college football. But none more than South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart, as far as Dan Mullen is concerned.

Choosing his top breakout freshman — his other two options were wideouts, Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith — Mullen couldn’t say enough about how Stewart wrecks games. And game plans.

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“Well both receivers are dynamic playmakers, but Dylan Stewart is a game wrecker for the Gamecocks. Even though he only has 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the year, he dominates the game. The pressures he causes on the quarterback, the attention he draws from the offense. You have got to know where he is and pay attention to him.”

As a former offensive coach himself, Mullen knows just the sort of stress that Stewart creates for opposing coaches.

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“And as an offensive coordinator and offensive coach, when you have to scheme and specifically game plan for one player, especially on the D line, that causes a lot of issues for your offense and he has been special this year and will continue to be special throughout his career,” Mullen said.

Another talented South Carolina youngster is hoping to step up

Sophomore receiver Nyck Harbor hasn’t quite made the impact South Carolina would’ve hoped in his still-brief time in Colombia. Especially for a five-star recruit and one of the freakiest athletes in college football.

In 15 career games, Harbor has 14 receptions for 213 yards and a touchdown. And this season, it’s been just two catches for 18 yards. For the 6-foot-5, 235-pound sophomore, it’s very much a work in progress.

And his head coach, Shane Beamer, was recently asked how Harbor has looked in practice as he progresses to try and claim a larger role.

“It looks like a guy that’s working hard to continue to get better and a guy that works hard to continue to learn what we’re asking him to do and a guy that’s working hard to catch the ball consistently, just like all of our receivers are, and every player that we have,” Beamer said. “It looks like he’s out there working really, really hard to be a great player because it’s very important to Nyckoles to be a great receiver.”

And Beamer did add that Harbor, who might not be making a splash at receiver, is making an impact elsewhere on the field.

“And he’s doing a really good job on special teams, covering kicks for us and was on the kickoff return team the other day did some things on offense and will continue to get better, along with the rest of our guys,” Beamer said.