Finally! South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore picked on Day 3 of NFL Draft
For the eighth-straight year, three Gamecocks have been selected in the NFL Draft.
After CB Brandon Cisse (Second round to the Green Bay Packers) and DT Nick Barrett (fifth round to the LA Chargers) heard their names called, the Buffalo Bills drafted South Carolina DB Jalon Kilgore in the fifth round (Pick No. 167 overall).
That order was quite a surprise.
Heading into the draft, nearly every mock draft projected that Kilgore would be the second Gamecock off the board. Heck, after Thursday’s first round, ESPN’s Matt Miller projected that the Pittsburgh Steelers would use the No. 85 overall pick on Kilgore. Somehow, the South Carolina DB had to wait an additional 82 picks before he got the life-changing call.
So what are the Bills getting in Kilgore?
Well, he blossomed immediately in Columbia, becoming a Freshman All-American in 2023 playing at both nickel and safety. He transitioned to the Gamecocks’ starting safety in 2024, racking up 48 tackles and five interceptions (tied for the most in the SEC), helping South Carolina to a 9-4 season.
Last season, Kilgore was a bright spot during the Gamecocks’ 4-8 season, becoming an All-SEC second-team selection after making 54 tackles and breaking up 10 passes.
A 6-foot-1, 207-pound Georgia native, Kilgore became a captain during his junior season at South Carolina, blending leadership and athleticism that should be able to translate to the NFL. The biggest concern revolves around his position.
“Kilgore is a tough eval when projecting him at a position other than nickel,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in his mega draft guide, “but his size, athletic talent and ball-hawking skills should give teams confidence to make that bet. There is a high-risk, high-reward scenario waiting for the team that chases his upside.”
Brugler continued: “Though his athletic traits are outstanding, he lacks functional control in his pedal and break movements, which allows receivers to uncover on his watch. He wasn’t asked to range over the top in coverage, but that should be his best position at the next level.”
Regardless, Kilgore’s selection continues an impressive run of Gamecock defensive backs being drafted.
He becomes the eighth South Carolina DB drafted since 2021, joining: Jaycee Horn (First round, 2021), Israel Mukuamu (Sixth round, 2021), Cam Smith (Second round, 2023), Darius Rush (Fifth round, 2023), Marcellas Dial (Sixth round, 2024), Emmanwori (Second round, 2025) and Cisse (Second round, 2026).
