USC coach Shane Beamer and his assistants were able to overcome some long odds and some powerful programs when they signed TE Nycholas Harbor of Washington, DC in February. Harbor, who is also an elite sprinter, was one of the nation’s top prospects, and few could conceive early on that Beamer could win that recruiting battle.
He did with his patented Welcome Home approach, selling family and friendship and unity to overcome what the other top contenders could sell in terms of their legacies on the field.
Beamer is attempting to pull off another stunner with another national recruit from the same area. DE Dylan Stewart of Washington will make his official visit with the Gamecocks this weekend. He will arrive Friday with his parents and cousin.
He has also taken official visits Georgia, Miami and Ohio State and those are the only others under considering as he’s cut Alabama, Penn State and Michigan from his previous short list.
Stewart is by no means a stranger to Beamer, USC and Columbia. By his accounting, he has already made eight visits with the Gamecocks. He was in for the spring game in April, a junior day in January, and a camp last summer.
“I’ve seen everything I’ve needed to see,” Stewart said Wednesday afternoon. “I’ve been impressed by how open Beamer is and how the coaching staff treats their players. I really like the relationships I’ve got with the coaches and my comfortability with the players, and the defensive scheme and what I’d be doing. They would use my athletic ability pretty well.”
Stewart has not yet set an actual date for making his commitment announcement, and his plan after the USC visit is to make his decision with as little outside distraction as possible. His plan is simple.
“Sit down and talk with my parents,” Stewart said.
Stewart is considered by many as the top defensive end prospect in his class. He’s coming off a junior season of 16 sacks.
