Jalon Kilgore has been a standout defensive back for South Carolina during his brief college career.
Kilgore, a former star at Putnam County, is heading into his junior season with the Gamecocks. After the season, he is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, and recently received high praise from ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Reid listed Kilgore as one of his top five safeties to watch for in the 2026 draft, following Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Kamari Ramsey (USC), and Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) in rankings, but above Tao Johnson (Utah).
NFLDraftBuzz.com also predicts Kilgore will be a third-round pick if he chooses to forgo his senior season.
Kilgore is a rotational player in South Carolina’s secondary under position coach Torrian Gray. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound defensive back plays the nickel position for the Gamecocks but also has received reps at safety.
Kilgore was named to the second-team All-SEC by College Football News and to a third-team All-SEC by Phil Steele.
As a sophomore last season, Kilgore played in 13 games and started 11. He ranked sixth on the South Carolina defense in tackles with 48 and recorded three tackles for loss. Kilgore led the team with five interceptions last season, tying for the SEC lead and ranking fourth in the country. He also had five pass break-ups and three quarterback hurries. In 2023, Kilgore received first-team Freshman All-American honors from ESPN.com and 247Sports. He also earned third-team recognition from College Football News.
Additionally, Kilgore was selected to the SEC All-Freshman team and was one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Before arriving in Columbia to play for the Gamecocks, Kilgore dominated on both sides of the ball at Putnam County as a multi-sport athlete.
On the gridiron as a senior, Kilgore was named Region 4-AA Athlete of the Year. Offensively, he hauled in 34 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns, while on the defensive side, he recorded 88 tackles, eight pass breakups, and forced four fumbles during his senior campaign.
As a high school sophomore, Kilgore also won a state championship in the long jump with a personal record of 23-7.
Kilgore chose to play at South Carolina over Michigan, Clemson, Oklahoma, and Tennessee Tech. His older brother, Gerald Kilgore, who was also a Putnam County football star, plays defensive back for the Gamecocks as well.