One major South Carolina high school football recruit decided to end 2024 with some big news.

With the high school football season ending across the country, many underclassmen have started announcing their college commitments. While a commitment is little more than a pledge from player to college, they do often signal a player’s absolute intent to sign and carry significant weight in the recruiting world.  

So when news began swirling Tuesday that one of the top wide receivers in the Class of 2026 – Bluffton (S.C.) standout wide receiver Carnell Warren (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) – will announce his college commitment Thursday during the Under Armour Next All-America Game live on ESPN, it got the recruiting world buzzing.

A 4-star recruit by ESPN and a composite 4-star by 247Sports, Warren is expected to choose Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Duke, or Virginia Tech, with the latter a seeming favorite. He also reportedly had interest from Appalachian State, Charlotte, Cincinnati and Coastal Carolina, amongst others.

The game is slated for 4 p.m. E.T. at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand, Fla.

As a junior this season Warren caught 53 passes for 800 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Warren made headlines earlier this season when he hauled in a touchdown over two defenders to earn the NFL’s “Way to Play” Catch of the Week for Week 12 on Nov. 29 – earning Bluffton High School a $3,000 equipment grant from USA Football through NFL Foundation.

He is currently ranked No. 203 on the ESPN Jr. Top 300.

It’s college football bowl season in 2024! Woohoo!

And in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl taking place in Orlando, we’ve got South Carolina playing against Illinois — the Gamecocks are ranked No. 15 in the country, and Illinois comes into this game at No. 20.

And if you’re here, you might be wondering: who are those voices you’re hearing on the broadcast of the nationally televised game?

Fear not! We have answers.

Mark Jones will be on play-by-play. He’ll be joined by Roddy Jones as analyst, and Quint Kessenich will be on the sideline to report.

That’s it! Enjoy the game and have a good New Year’s Eve!

As Shane Beamer and No. 14 South Carolina were preparing for their Citrus Bowl game vs. No. 20 Illinois, the Gamecocks made a big offseason splash by landing former Ohio State five-star quarterback Air Noland on Dec. 23.

But that wasn’t the only splash Beamer and Co. made this offseason: They also retained star freshman defensive edge Dylan Stewart, keeping him from entering the transfer portal.

REQUIRED READING: South Carolina football vs Illinois: Score prediction, scouting report for Citrus Bowl game

In a time where name, image and likeness (NIL) is at the forefront of player transactions — either in high school or the transfer portal — South Carolina and Stewart’s representatives had to do some in-season renegotiations to ensure his roster spot didn’t open up heading into 2025.

Stewart has been an impact player on South Carolina’s defense from Week 1. In 12 games this season, Stewart has recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles.

He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, which is given out annually to the top freshman college football player in the country by the Maxwell Football Club.

Here’s what you need to know about Stewart’s NIL situation as the 6-foot-6 defensive edge and the Gamecocks take on Illinois in the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday:

REQURIED READING: Why South Carolina football’s Shane Beamer, Illinois’ Bret Bielema value what Citrus Bowl offers

Dylan Stewart-South Carolina NIL situation

It was first reported by The State in November that Stewart and South Carolina’s NIL collective, The Garnet Trust, were working towards a new NIL agreement to keep the star freshman defensive edge in Columbia with the Gamecocks.

At the time both parties began negotiations, the NCAA transfer portal was not open yet.

Both parties came to an agreement on Tuesday, Dec. 10, two days after South Carolina learned it missed out on making the College Football Playoff and a day after the opening of the fall transfer portal window.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, the deal is a one-year “contract” and Stewart is expected to receive between $1 million and $1.5 million in NIL compensation. Stewart has since signed with the Garnet Trust, the official NIL collective of the Gamecocks.

What is Dylan Stewart NIL value?

According to On3, Stewart’s NIL valuation is $1.6 million.

Dylan Stewart stats

Stewart ranks second on South Carolina for sacks at six ½, placing him only behind Kyle Kennard. His 6.5-sack mark ranks third among all FBS freshman and is 1.5 shy of tying Jadeveon Clowney for the South Carolina freshman sack record.

Here’s a full breakdown of Stewart’s stats this season at South Carolina:

• Tackles: 20
• Tackles for loss: 9.5
• Sacks: 6.5
• Forced fumbles: 3
• Passes defensed: 1