Former Putnam County standouts Jalon and Gerald Kilgore returned home on Saturday, July 11, with one goal in mind: to give back to the community that helped shape them.
The brothers hosted the inaugural Jalon and Gerald Kilgore Football Camp at Al Reaves Field in Eatonton, welcoming nearly 100 young athletes from across Lake Country for a morning of instruction, competition, and fun.
Campers ranging from early elementary school through age 14 spent three hours learning the fundamentals of football while working through a variety of drills designed to improve their athleticism and on-field skills. The session began with warm-up exercises before participants rotated through football- specific drills focused on speed, agility, footwork, and technique.
The Kilgore brothers were joined by current Putnam County football players and members of the War Eagles coaching staff, who helped lead drills and provide instruction throughout the event. The camp allowed participants to receive hands-on coaching from athletes who once stood in their shoes on the same field.
For the Kilgore brothers, however, the day was about much more than football.
“It’s amazing seeing all the kids out here, just being able to give back to the community that raised you and built you up,” Jalon said. “It’s going to be fun just getting back together and just having fun.”
The camp served as an opportunity to invest in the next generation of athletes in the community where they grew up, encouraging young players while showing them what’s possible through hard work and dedication.
“It just means a lot to give back that knowledge because I feel like that’s something that a lot of us are missing,” Jalon said. “For them to have mentors like us to see what steps to take and what options to choose. Sometimes it’s going to be a good option or a bad option, but just being able to make those decisions and make the right one at the end of the day.”
Gerald echoed his brother’s message, emphasizing that success comes from hard work and setting the right example.
“It takes a lot of hard work to get where you want to be in life,” Gerald said. “We definitely put in a lot of hard work, so thanks to our parents and thanks to God for blessing us with the skills that we have. We just want to continue to be a good example to the city, to the kids that are growing up here, and continue to keep moving forward.”
Jalon Kilgore has quickly become one of Putnam County’s greatest football success stories. After starring for the War Eagles, he spent the past three seasons at the University of South Carolina, developing into one of the Gamecocks’ top defensive backs. His collegiate career culminated in April when the Buffalo Bills selected him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, turning a lifelong dream into reality.
Gerald Kilgore has carved out an impressive path of his own. He began his college career at Tennessee Tech, where he played for two seasons before transferring to South Carolina. The move reunited him with his younger brother, allowing them to share the field over the past two seasons. Gerald enters the 2026 campaign with the Gamecocks for his final season of collegiate eligibility.
Hosting the camp together made the day even more meaningful for the Kilgores, who have shared the field from their days at Putnam County to the SEC.
“We have a really strong relationship,” Gerald said. “Us being able to play on the same team the past two years, that was crazy. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He’s doing his thing now, and I’m still doing my thing for my last year, so more great things are on the way for sure.”
Jalon said returning to Al Reaves Field with his brother brought back memories of where their football journey began.
“Just playing all three years together in high school, and then to be able to do it in college as well is a big thing,” he said. “Not a lot of people get to do that. With him doing his thing in college and me going on to the league, and us both striving toward success, I feel like that’s the best. It’s a testament to our family.”