Jalon Kilgore CB South Carolina | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jalon Kilgore CB South Carolina
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Slot/Nickel Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/21/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (57%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Slot/Nickel Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 05/21/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (57%*) | |
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| Overall Rating: | 85.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 82.9 | |
| Tackling: |
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78% |
| Run Defense: |
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85% |
| Coverage: |
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78% |
| Zone: |
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76% |
| Man/Press: |
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76% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#75
Position rank:
#11
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| College Games: 25 College Snaps: 1548 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Akayleb Evans - Missouri |
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90% |
| Mekhi Garner - LSU |
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86% |
| Nohl Williams - California |
|
85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The small-town kid from Eatonton, Georgia arrived at South Carolina with modest recruiting rankings but quickly established himself as a defensive cornerstone. Kilgore was thrust into action during the 2023 season opener when Nick Emmanwori went down with an injury, responding with 12 tackles against North Carolina and never relinquishing his starting role. The versatile defensive back went on to amass 76 tackles as a true freshman, earning First-Team Freshman All-America honors from ESPN and 247Sports while starting 11 games and finishing second on the team in tackles.Kilgore's sophomore campaign showcased his ball-hawking capabilities as he snagged five interceptions to lead the SEC and tie for fourth nationally. His nose for the football proved clutch as he sealed victories against both Old Dominion and Missouri with game-clinching interceptions. The 6'2", 219-pound defender continued his consistent production with 48 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, while starting 11 of 13 contests. His impactful play earned him Second-Team All-SEC recognition from College Football Nation and Third-Team All-SEC status from Phil Steele.
Before arriving in Columbia, Kilgore dominated on both sides of the ball at Putnam County High School, showcasing rare athleticism that translated across multiple sports. The Region 4-AA Athlete of the Year hauled in 34 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns as a receiver while recording 88 tackles, eight pass breakups, and four forced fumbles on defense. His explosiveness extended to track and field, where he claimed the Georgia 2A long jump state championship as a sophomore with a personal best of 23-7.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Brings a physical enforcer mentality to the secondary with elite size and speed that intimidates receivers working the middle.
- Devastating hitter who plays with controlled violence when triggering against the run – arrives at the ball carrier with bad intentions and rarely misses the target.
- Former wide receiver background shows up in contested situations where he tracks the ball like it's intended for him rather than the offensive player.
- Elite run defender who takes smart angles to the ball and isn't afraid to mix it up with bigger bodies when working downhill from the nickel spot.
- Displays rare positional flexibility to play traditional corner, nickel, or deep safety – gives defensive coordinators a matchup weapon against various personnel groupings.
- Changes direction smoothly for his size – surprising hip fluidity allows him to mirror shifty slot receivers despite carrying 20+ pounds on most corners.
- Natural football instincts shine in zone coverage where he baits quarterbacks and jumps routes with calculated timing – plays the quarterback's intentions, not just the receiver.
- Leadership qualities evident through communication pre-snap – takes charge of the secondary despite his youth and consistently puts teammates in correct alignments.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Raw technical ability in coverage doesn't yet match his exceptional instincts – still learning the nuances of position after playing multiple spots in secondary.
- Ball-hawking instincts occasionally lead to gambling in coverage – will need to be more selective taking chances against NFL quarterbacks who manipulate safeties with their eyes.
- Despite closing speed, sometimes rounds his breaks rather than driving explosively on underneath routes – wastes steps in transition that NFL receivers will exploit.
- Can get grabby in man coverage when he loses leverage – needs to rely more on footwork than physicality to avoid penalty flags at the next level.
- Blitz timing from nickel position needs work – telegraphs intentions too early and lacks sophisticated hand-fighting techniques to defeat blockers in space.
Scouting Report: Summary
With Kilgore you're watching a defensive back whose run support jumps off the screen while his coverage skills remain a work in progress. There's undeniable value in his versatility across the secondary, though his tendencies to gamble in zone coverage will need refinement against NFL-caliber quarterbacks. The size-speed combination creates matchup opportunities against bigger receiving targets, yet this same aggressiveness occasionally leaves him vulnerable to double moves from craftier route runners.His transition from high school wide receiver to SEC ball hawk reveals itself in how naturally he tracks the ball in flight, snagging those five interceptions last season with the instincts of someone who understands offensive intentions. Despite this natural playmaking ability, his technique in man coverage still shows inconsistencies that better receivers will exploit if not addressed. The modern game demands defensive backs who can operate in multiple roles without substitution – a clear strength of his skill set – though developing more discipline in his assignments would elevate his overall effectiveness.
The junior season ahead represents a critical development period where technical refinement must catch up to his considerable physical gifts. Defensive schemes emphasizing physical nickel defenders who aren't liabilities against the run will maximize his contributions, particularly in early downs. The foundation exists for significant growth if his coverage skills can progress to match his tackling prowess.
How other scouting services rate Jalon Kilgore (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
68.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
11.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.