South Carolina coach Shane Beamer has suspended star edge rusher Dylan Stewart indefinitely, Beamer announced Sunday on a teleconference reported September 28. Stewart will not play against Kentucky, and a decision on his future could come within days, according to Field Level Media.

Stewart punched Alabama tight end Josh Ford in the helmet during Saturday's 49-18 loss to the Crimson Tide, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct flag. He also shouted at coaches when he was taken out of the game.

Earlier, Stewart clashed with Beamer on the sideline after a roughing-the-passer penalty. At one point Stewart walked away mid-conversation, and Beamer grabbed his right arm as they walked down the sideline.

'There's a standard of how we do things in our program and that was not it last night,' Beamer said. 'It's beyond the punch. The punch is unacceptable.'

Stewart, a junior, has 57 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in two-plus seasons. He returned to the lineup September 19 against Mississippi State after missing time with a back injury. The Gamecocks, 2-2 and 0-2 in the SEC, host No. 24 Kentucky on Saturday seeking their first conference win.