A three-year starter in the SEC, Jalon Kilgore looks primed to be an impact safety in the NFL who could be a pick of great value.
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalon Kilgore
Measurables
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 210 pounds
Arms: 32.88″
Hands: 9.38″
40-yard: 4.40
Vertical: 37″
Broad jump: 10’10”
RAS: 9.60
School: South Carolina
Jalon Kilgore NFL Draft Overview
Out of high school, Kilgore was a consensus four-star prospect out of Georgia. He was considered to be the 26th-best safety in the 2023 recruiting class and committed to South Carolina over the likes of Oklahoma, Clemson, Florida, and a host of others. From the jump, Kilgore was an impact player for the Gamecocks.
As a true freshman, Kilgore started 11 games and appeared in a 12th for South Carolina. In that time, he finished second on the team with 76 tackles, and added 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, six pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He was on the SEC All-Freshman team and was honored with first-team Freshman All-American status by ESPN and 247Sports.
He continued starting for the Gamecocks as a sophomore with 11 starts in 13 games. His tackles took a step back with 48, but he added three tackles for loss, an SEC-best five interceptions, and five pass breakups. Both of the wins over Old Dominion and Mizzou were clinched thanks to Kilgore’s interceptions.
Last season, he was voted as a captain for the Gamecocks and started all 11 games in which he appeared. In his time at South Carolina, he missed just one game, and that came in Week 2 of the 2025 season with a hamstring injury. In total, he finished his career with 54 tackles, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. He was picked for the second-team All-SEC as well.
Strengths
Very productive in three seasons
Early breakout age
Captain
9.60 RAS
Can close on receivers and ballcarriers quickly and land a hit
Can line up at safety or nickel corner
Matches up well with tight ends
Just turned 21
Weaknesses
Could get in flag trouble
Doesn’t respond as well against quick slot receivers
Effort in plays going away from him could use work
Prone to giving up space in transition
Despite the stats, his ball tracking needs more development
Projection: Third Round
Best Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys
Bottom Line
Most likely a player on an upward trajectory in his career, Kilgore is an interesting prospect in this year’s draft class. As a safety, he has great size and has good recognition when it comes to diagnosing concepts in front of him. Two of the more impressive parts of his profile to NFL teams will be the fact that he was a captain and that he earned starts as a true freshman in the SEC.
He can come downhill and play in the box or in the slot in run support as well. Kilgore has plenty of traits that should translate to the NFL level.
Kilgore has a few things he will need to work on, of course. He has a history of taking plays off if the plays are going away from him. At the same time, he can get a bit handsy with receivers, which will likely result in more flags than he earned in college.
All in all, Kilgore will get plenty of playing time early as he continues to develop. Remember, he’s still only 21 and has some of his best football ahead of him.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images