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Jalon Kilgore

  • position DB
  • height 6-1
  • weight 207
  • class Junior
  • Hometown Eatonton, Ga.
  • High school Putnam County
  • position DB
  • height 6-1
  • weight 207
  • class Junior
  • Hometown Eatonton, Ga.
  • High school Putnam County

Jalon Kilgore Bio

2025 Rex Enright Team Captain
2025 co-Joe Morrison MVP – Defense
2025 First-Team All-SEC (PFSN College)
2025 Second-Team All-SEC (Coaches)
2025 Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
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

Defensive back who spent three years as a starter in the Gamecock secondary… earned Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC honors in his first year in Columbia in 2023 and was a second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches in 2025… tied for the SEC lead in interceptions in 2024 with five… appeared in 36 of 37 games over three seasons with 33 starts… worked primarily at Nickel but can also play safety… collected 178 tackles and eight career picks with 21 pass breakups… elected to forego his final season of eligibility to declare for the NFL Draft following the 2025 season.

2025 (Junior)
One of five players selected by his peers as a Rex Enright permanent team captain… shared Joe Morrison MVP honors for the Carolina defense with Bryan Thomas Jr… named to the All-SEC Second Team as selected by the league’s 16 coaches and was a third-team All-SEC pick by Phil Steele… also named first team All-SEC by PFSN College… started all 11 games in which he played, missing the South Carolina State game with a hamstring injury… finished fourth on the squad with 54 tackles… led the team with 10 pass breakups and was one of four players with two interceptions, posting a dozen passes defended, tying for second in the SEC… added a pair of fumble recoveries and one quarterback hurry… posted a season-high 10 tackles at Missouri… added eight stops against Texas A&M and seven versus Clemson… had picks against Ole Miss and Clemson… fumble recovery came in the win over Kentucky… served as a game captain against LSU.

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 who graduated in December 2025… older brother, Gerald, is 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