Jalon Kilgore

*2024 Second-Team All-SEC (College Football Nation)
*2024 Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
*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… earned Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC honors in his first year in Columbia in 2023… led the league in interceptions in 2024… could be used at either Nickel or safety… has appeared in all 25 games over the past two seasons with 22 starts… owns 124 tackles and six career interceptions.

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.

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 14 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 a 5.4-yard average with a long of 15 yards… posted multiple tackles in all 12 games… 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… two of his six pass breakups came 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… ranked as the 27th-best prospect in Georgia, the 26th-best safety in the country and No. 284 overall according to 247Sports Composite… rated the 25th-best player in the Peach State, the 20th-best safety in the country and No. 271 overall by On3 Composite… ESPN ranked him as the 48th-best player in the state and the No. 43 safety in the nation.

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.