University of South Carolina defensive back Jalon Kilgore had a stellar freshman season.
He significantly impacted the Gamecocks’ defense, totaling a team’s second-best 76 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and six pass breakups last year.
The former Putnam County football standout also earned several national honors, including being named to the 2023 All-America First Team (ESPN, 247Sports), 2023 Freshman All-America Third Team (College Football News), and 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team (coaches). He also was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award and made the USC fall academic honor roll.
But through it all, Kilgore was still adjusting to the speed of the game at the next level. The former four-star prospect said he felt much more “comfortable” in a 247Sports interview earlier this year.
“Just a lot more comfortable,” Kilgore said. “Especially compared to my last year’s spring. Last year’s spring, I didn’t know as much as I know now. I was going and playing football, not knowing why we were doing it or when we were supposed to do it. Now, I know why and where I am supposed to be on the field, every play. Trying to be more consistent with that.”
Kilgore is primed to make an even bigger impression in his sophomore season. The 6-foot-1, 219-pound defensive back said he doesn’t want to get complacent and strives daily to become a better player.
Kilgore rotated spots in South Carolina’s defensive backfield as a freshman. He’s now learning to play several other positions in the secondary for the Gamecocks this year, including nickel and star.
“Last year, I came in during spring, and I was learning free and strong [safety]. As the season went on, I started to learn some more nickel. With the game plan, I just had to break it down more on each team,” he told 247Sports. “Now, I’m learning what I am supposed to do. … It’s way easier right now. The difference between nickel and free safety is that I’m just in coverage more. I’m not as in the field making tackles as much. I’m still in there when I can be. I am mainly covering slot receivers.”
Also, Jalon’s older brother, Gerald Kilgore, joined him during the offseason at South Carolina. Previously, they helped Putnam County win a region championship in 2021 and make it to the quarterfinals that year.
Gerald was at Tennessee Tech, a Division II program, for the last two seasons before joining his brother in Columbia this offseason. They’re now back playing together for the first time in three years.
Gamecocks linebacker Debo Williams told The Eatonton Messenger at SEC Media Days on Monday in Dallas how excited he is to see the Kilgore brothers play together. He predicted they’ll make a great on-field duo.
“I’m glad they’re together. I wish I had an opportunity like that to play alongside my brother, so I know they’re going to do nothing but play even better,” Williams said. “I see them in workouts, and they’re always competing together, getting better, man. I expect big seasons out of both of them.”
Kilgore knows his older brother will push him to be even better, and he’s excited for this fall.
“It’s been great. Being joyful. I am happy for my family because that is what they really wanted, was for us to be back together again,” Kilgore said. “They don’t have to travel as much, going from Tennessee to South Carolina. It has been great having him; it just feels natural.”