Jalon Kilgore is a 6’1, 210-pound defensive back from the University of South Carolina. He was a renaissance man in Putnam County, where he played football, basketball, and ran track in high school. In 2020, he was the Georgia 2A State champion in the long jump. He was a two-way player in football. In 2021, he had 34 receptions, 921 yards, and 11 touchdowns as a wide receiver to go along with 88 tackles, 8 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles as a safety. After the season, he was named the Georgia Region 4-AA Athlete of the Year. He was then recruited as a 4-star recruit to play defensive back and punt returner at South Carolina, the same school his older brother played at. Jalon played in 12 games (started 11) as a true freshman. He finished the season with 76 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble. In 2023, he was a 1st-Team freshman All-American by ESPN.com and an All-Freshman SEC selection by the coaches. In 2024, he played in 13 games (started 11). He had the most tackles for loss (3) and led the SEC with 5 interceptions. He was voted team captain in his junior year for his hard work, energy, and passion towards his peers. He led the team with 10 pass breakups and was 1st Team All-SEC by PFSN College.
Jalon is an intriguing prospect given his SEC experience, production, and physical tools. Within the versatile 4-2-5 defense, South Carolina put him at nickel, safety, and outside linebacker. He has 32 ⅜-inch arms and 9 ⅜-inch hands. He ran a 4.32 thirty-yard shuttle, 1.56 ten-yard split, and 4.4 forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He also has a 37-inch vertical jump (NFL.com). His measurables and traits can impact the game.
Jalon is an active communicator pre- and post-snap, diagnosing run fits and play action passes. He can sniff out screens and funnel their blockers back inside. His range can vary depending on the matchups and structure of defense. When in zone coverage, he keeps his eyes downfield and rotates accordingly. His 37-inch vertical can make it hard for a quarterback to throw the ball over his head. The next phase of his development is being able to recognize misdirection plays, during which he can’t play fast and react.
While Jalon is capable of phasing in tight coverage, he gives up windows outside and in the middle of the field. His hips and footwork aren’t fluid and quick in transition. When he gets beaten, he struggles to turn his head or play the ball. Receivers can draw penalties against him, like his pass interference against Vanderbilt in 2025. He’s more successful in pass coverage against tight ends or when he buzzes in zone coverage and breaks on the ball. Jalon is effective at tackling, blitzing, and spying inside the box, but he struggles to get off perimeter blocks. He uses various tackling techniques, but he’s way more efficient as a profile tackler than an ankle tackler.
While Jalon occasionally lines up in press coverage, he typically gives a 5-7 yard cushion off the line of scrimmage. The Clemson receivers in 2024 saw his leverage and constantly ran digs, slants, hitches, posts, bang 8s, and outs against him. Jalon has the instincts to jump on some of those routes. However, he doesn’t consistently have the ball skills to come down with the catch, as he did in his game against Texas A&M in 2025. This is surprising considering his wide receiver background in high school. He still ended his career with an impressive eight interceptions and twenty-one pass breakups in three seasons. The talent and upside is there. And while Jalon has done a lot in his career up to this point, he’ll be better suited covering tight ends and stopping the run in the box.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit
Jalon needs to go to a team that allows their rovers and safeties to maneuver inside the box. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, and Chicago Bears are the best fits for Jalon. They all have a scheme in which their nickel backs come down in the box and make plays.
Player Comparison: Isaiah Simmons, Carolina Panthers
Isaiah Simmons was also a tweener in college with good traits. He played linebacker and safety at Clemson University. As his NFL career progressed, he focused on developing as a hybrid linebacker.
Projection: League Average Starter
While I don’t see Jalon being an immediate NFL starter, I project him as a starter within three years of his development.
Grade and Round Projection: 5, Day 2 Pick
I gave Jalon a 5.0 grade with a curve (4.5 initial), projecting him as a day two selection in the NFL Draft.
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