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Jalon Kilgore

  • position DB
  • height 6-1
  • weight 211
  • class Junior
  • Hometown Eatonton, Ga.
  • High school Putnam County
  • position DB
  • height 6-1
  • weight 211
  • class Junior
  • Hometown Eatonton, Ga.
  • High school Putnam County

Jalon Kilgore Bio

2024 Second-Team All-SEC (College Football Nation)
2024 Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
2024 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2023 First-Team Freshman All-America (ESPN.com, 247Sports)
2023 Third-Team Freshman All-America (College Football News)
2023 SEC All-Freshman (Coaches)
2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalist
2023 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

Third-year defensive back who has become a fixture in the secondary as a two-year starter… is a post-season honors candidate… earned Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC honors in his first year in Columbia in 2023… tied for the SEC lead in interceptions in 2024 with five… has  appeared in all 25 games over the past two seasons with 22 starts… has worked primarily at Nickel but can also play safety… owns 124 tackles and six career picks.

2024 (Sophomore)
Second-year player who was named second-team All-SEC by College Football Nation and third-team All-SEC by Phil Steele… played in all 13 games starting 11… ranked sixth on the squad with 48 tackles including 3.0 tackles for loss… led the team, tied for the SEC lead and tied for fourth in the country with five interceptions, tying Jaylan Foster’s 2021 total for the most by a Gamecock in the last 20 years… also broke up five passes and had three quarterback hurries… had at least two tackles in every contest with a season-high six at Vanderbilt and five each against LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri and Clemson… sealed both the Old Dominion and the Missouri contests with a late-game interception… also had picks at Kentucky, at Alabama and against Illinois… logged a 28-yard punt return against Akron… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2023 (Freshman)
True freshman who was named a first-team Freshman All-American by ESPN.com and 247Sports and was a third-team selection by College Football News… named to the SEC All-Freshman team by the league’s coaches… recognized as one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award… played in all 12 games, starting the final 11 contests… worked at both nickel and safety… was also the team’s top punt returner… second on the team with 76 tackles… tied for 16th overall in the SEC and tied for sixth among all freshmen in the FBS in tackles per game at 6.33… credited with 1.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, one interception and a forced fumble… returned nine punts for 49 yards with a long of 15… posted multiple tackles in every game… forced into duty early in the season opener against North Carolina when Nick Emmanwori left the game with an injury on the first series… responded with a dozen tackles against the Tar Heels… turned in a career high 15-tackle performance against Tennessee while also recording his first career interception against the Volunteers… followed that up with an 11-tackle effort against Florida… credited with two pass breakups at Missouri… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Putnam County in Eatonton, Ga. in December, 2022… played on both sides of the ball for the War Eagles, working at wide receiver on offense and safety on defense… coached by Shaun Pope… named the Georgia Region 4-AA Athlete of the Year as a junior in 2021… caught 34 passes for 921 yards and 11 TDs… credited with 88 tackles, eight pass breakups and four forced fumbles… also competed in track & field and on the basketball hardwood… set personal bests of 11.62 in the 100, 51.71 in the 400 and 23-7 in the long jump… was the Georgia 2A long jump state champ as a sophomore.

PERSONAL
Jalon G. Kilgore was born Jan. 27, 2005… is a public health major… older brother, Gerald, is also a member of the Gamecock football squad.

News

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Tuesday Football Media Availability 11/25/25

    South Carolina Head Coach Shane Beamer and three members of the Gamecock football program met with the media following Tuesday’s practice as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's home game against Clemson. Player media availability included: DQ Smith, Luke Doty and Jalon Kilgore

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Tuesday Football Media Availability 10/28/25

    South Carolina Head Coach Shane Beamer and four members of the Gamecock football program met with the media following Tuesday’s practice as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's road trip to face No. 7 Ole Miss. Player media availability included: Brady Hunt, Jayden Sellers, Jalon Kilgore and Rahsul Faison

  • University of South Carolina Athletics
    Football  . 

    Videos: Wednesday Football Media Availability 08/06/25

    Seven Members of the South Carolina Defense met with the media following Wednesday's practice; Including David Bucey, Jalon Kilgore, Brandon Cisse, JayR Johnson, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, Shawn Murphy and Peyton Williams

Videos