Will Kilgore emerge as one of the top DBs in college football this year?
It’s always worth taking notice when a South Carolina defensive back starts to get recognized at the national level.
While the Gamecocks don’t quite have the “DBU” pedigree of LSU or Ohio State, they’ve put a number of talented defensive backs into the NFL in recent years. Their cornerbacks and safeties tend to be big, athletic, and highly physical, which make them sought-after prospects at the NFL level.
Jalen Kilgore could be the next in that line as he enter his junior season in 2025. Kilgore has played the nickel position over the last two years, but could see his role shift with cornerback O’Donnell Fortune, signed as an undrafted free agent by the Giants, and safety Nick Emmanwori both in the NFL.
It’s possible that Kilgore could emerge as a top cornerback or safety in the upcoming draft class. South Carolina as a whole could make some real noise in the SEC this year, so we should get familiar with Kilgore.
(Kilgore is the South Carolina DB wearing number 24)
Strengths
Kilgore has a number of traits that could make him a sought after prospect when he declares.
He has prototypical size for a defensive back and is listed at 6-foot-1, 211 pounds. He certainly looks like a bigger safety on the field, he yet he also has the athleticism to play cornerback or in the slot.
The South Carolina defense took full advantage of those traits and watching Kilgore is like an every-down game of “Where’s Waldo”. He was constantly moved around the defensive formation and played the slot, cornerback, strong safety, and SPUR (South Carolina’s name for a Safety/Linebacker hybrid position).
Kilgore has good fluidity and speed for a bigger defensive back, with enough speed to run with receivers or close receiving windows from off coverage. He also shows awareness and discipline in coverage, rarely getting fooled by misdirection or getting caught up in schemed traffic. Likewise, he understands his role in the larger scheme and typically positions himself to leverage the ball back to help, allowing the defense as a whole to swarm.
Finally, he has some really impressive ball skills. Kilgore notched 5 interceptions and 5 passes defensed last year, quickly establishing himself as a player to test at the offense’s peril. He does a great job of playing with his eyes in the backfield, reading the quarterback and closing on the ball to quickly slam receiving windows shut. He arrives with authority and and is also a reliable tackler when he can’t disrupt the pass.
Weaknesses
One of Kilgore’s strengths is his versatility to straddle the line between corner and safety. He has uncommon size for a cornerback and as well as very good fluidity for a safety.
But therein lies the (potential) rub for Kilgore. The inverse of those traits is that he appears to have some hip stiffness compared to more obvious “cornerback” prospects. He’s still able to play off or zone coverage, but he can be a bit slow to open or flip his hips when turning to run with receivers. Likewise, he labors a bit to change directions quickly and can give up some separation on sharply breaking routes.
And while Kilgore has solid long speed, it’s more of the “build up” variety and he doesn’t appear to have great short area quickness or explosiveness.
That could limit him to paying a Nickel role in the NFL or cause teams to view him as a “safety only”, depending on how he tests out.
Final thoughts
Kilgore is going to be a fun and interesting player to follow over the next few months.
Assuming he declares for the 2026 NFL Draft, his draft stock could hinge heavily on how he’s used this year by South Carolina, as well as his performance in next year’s Scouting Combine. Assuming Kilgore continues to show great ball skills, awareness, and versatility, teams will be high on him. But if he tests as a viable cornerback, he could emerge as the top defensive back in the draft.
As it is, his tape suggests that if a team looks at him as a pure cornerback, he could be a corner in a similar mold as Trevon Diggs. But if his speed and fluidity check out, he could draw comparisons to Jalen Ramsey coming out of Florida State.