2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalon Kilgore (DB – South Carolina)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at South Carolina defensive back Jalon Kilgore.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalon Kilgore

Jalon Kilgore (DB – South Carolina)

6-foot-1 | 211 Pounds

Background

Jalon Kilgore was a three-star recruit whose brother Gerald also plays safety for the Gamecocks. Has been starting since the second game of his freshman season, a year in which he posted 76 tackles, six breakups and one interception.

Recorded 48 tackles, five breakups and five interceptions in 2024. Closed out his collegiate career with 54 tackles, 10 breakups and two interceptions in 2025.

Positives

Strongly-built, highly productive three-year SEC starter who primarily plays as a nickel, but drops into the box at times as well (typically when there isn’t an opponent in the slot). Has very long arms. Plays different techniques from the slot, including press, traditional off-coverage and shuffle.

Extensive experience comes through in his game. Shows polished technique, with good overall balance and body control. Despite his size, the team trusted him to work against smaller slot receivers. Shows good footwork at the line to match releases. Does a nice job of using his hands to feel routes, and is willing to get physical with opposing receivers to disrupt their timing.

Overall speed is good enough to carry opposing receivers down the seams. Shows good route anticipation/recognition skills, which allowed him to work comfortably in coverage. Maintains good sight lines in zone coverage. Got his hands on quite a few balls, primarily as a result of his anticipation.

Kilgore sniffs out screens early and does a good job of attacking blocks and funneling runners back inside to help. Willing to pitch in on run support and has been a pretty reliable tackler, with an impressive radius and some nice physicality/toughness there.

Negatives

Functioned as almost a pure nickel defender. Usage as a high safety is relatively limited. The vast majority of which came as a freshman, and he has almost zero snaps as a true boundary cornerback. Perhaps not the twitchiest, most explosive mover; relies more on technique and awareness. Tends to play more cautiously against speedy opponents.

Hips aren’t the loosest, and there are chances for timing-based throws at the stem. Doesn’t have the ideal recovery burst/speed when he’s playing off coverage, or otherwise gets caught out of position. A relatively conservative temperament opens up opportunities for completions on quick throws underneath. Leaves some potential interceptions on the table, as he can read plays well, but drops the interception.

Summary

A big, experienced three-year SEC starter with an impressive combination of technique and recognition skills, Kilgore has proven his ability to cover from the slot against different types of receivers and to support the run effectively, with good physicality and reliable tackling.

However, due to his lack of snaps as either a high safety or an outside cornerback, projecting him to the league may require a bit too much imagination for some teams, depending on what scheme/personnel they currently have, which may lead to widely divergent grades.

Still, Kilgore looks like he should be able to carve out a role somewhere in the defensive backfield, and could get some Day 2 consideration.

Projection: Round 3/Round 4