Jalon Kilgore looked 'right at home' in South Carolina debut
Sometimes history repeats itself. South Carolina certainly found that out Saturday night.
A year after Nick Emmanwori relieved an injured RJ Roderick on the first drive of the season in what turned into his coming out part, the Gamecocks found themselves in a nearly identical spot against North Carolina.
Emmanwori went out on the first defensive play of the game, the Gamecocks turned to true freshman Jalon Kilgore who played well in his college debut.
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“Jalon is just a really good football player,” Shane Beamer said. “For a true freshman to come into that game against a high-powered offense and play like he did, he looked right at home and looked natural. He didn’t look out of place. That was awesome to see.”
Kilgore–who was going to play some snaps but in very much a reserve role–would up playing 63 of the Gamecocks’ 71 defensive snaps.
He finished with a 65.9 overall PFF grade with a 76.2 rush defense grade. He finished with 12 tackles, second on the team behind Debo Williams, while generating one pressure and a quarterback hurry.
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Drake Maye targeted Kilgore three times and he allowed three catches for 26 yards, an average of 8.7 yards per target, with 18 yards after catch allowed.
For a freshman playing in his first-ever college game, he left a good impression on his Gamecocks’ coaches.
“It happened so fast. We didn’t have a lot of time. Last week we prepared him for the moment and it happened the first play,” Clayton White said. “I thought Jalon did a great job. He came in and was ready as a true freshman in his first game playing safety in that environment. That’s going to go a long way.”
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And it seems likely Kilgore not only plays a ton in Week 2 against Furman but also starts. Emmanwori still remains doubtful heading into the game, which means more snaps for Kilgore.
Kilgore is more than ready, a blue-chip recruit who came in with talent but has impressed the coaching staff from the time he arrived in the spring.
A do-it-all talent at Putnam County (Ga.) High School, Kilgore came to South Carolina as the No. 278 player in the On3 Industry Rankings.
On3 had him even higher, a four-star prospect and the No. 168 player in the class.
And South Carolina thinks he’ll only get better as his freshman season goes on, similar to another do-it-all high school prospect.
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“Jalon, very much like DQ Smith, did everything in high school. He returned kicks, played DB, played quarterback,” Beamer said. “You see that in his play on Saturday night. He’s a really good player and is going to do nothing but get better out there for us.”
