Jalon Kilgore talks adjusting to D1 football
The transition from high school football to Division I football was one that was smooth for defensive back Jalon Kilgore. But what he did not realize was the early impact and start he would have for the Gamecocks.
“It felt pretty good the way I came in, I came in early so once I got during the season everything was really pretty smooth and easy once I got going,” Kilgore said in a Garnet Trust interview with GamecockCentral’s Chris Clark.
In order to get adjusted to life at USC, Kilgore joined the Gamecocks in January 2023 before spring training. Kilgore contributes most of his preparations and success to the decision to join early.
[GamecockCentral for $1: In-depth coverage and a great community]
“100 percent. I feel like for me I like to hop on it fast so I get to process it earlier,” Kilgore said when asked if coming to school early helped him. “I feel coming in early everything just slowed down and I just kind of moved into it.”
Just like that, Kilgore was thrusted into a starting role much earlier than he expected. But it was just what he needed to build his confidence. He went on to have 76 tackles as a true freshman.
“The first game, North Carolina, I wasn’t really expecting to play that game but once I saw Nick go out and they asked me to go in it just shot off from there,” he said. “I got the trust of my teammates and the trust of my coaches and I got more trust and confidence in myself, I feel like that’s what made me continue to have an even better season.”
In his first game, Kilgore made 12 total tackles with five of them being solo. Kilgore finished his freshman year ranked seventh on the SEC solo tackle leaderboard. Two other Gamecocks were named to the list, Debo Williams in first and Emmanwori in sixth.
The nerves and excitement of playing college football is something that is normal for most players. Kilgore noted that the nerves were not something that got to him throughout his first season.
“I wouldn’t say nerves but just anxious and to play,” Kilgore said. “Coach (Torrian) Gray says if you’re nervous then that means that you aren’t ready and I want to make sure I’m ready every snap.”
[The perfect Christmas gift: A gift subscription to GamecockCentral]
Life outside the football field held some of the biggest adjustments for Kilgore. Managing school work and football didn’t stop him from having an impressive freshman year. Against SEC powerhouse Tennessee, Kilgore made 15 total tackles, 8 of them being solo.
“It was a really big adjustment, just managing my time with classes with sports with meetings and extra meetings, things like that and also having a social life. It was really just trying to manage my time so I don’t fall apart,” he said.
Family life is something that has shaped Kilgore into who he is today. Coming from a family of athletes with two older brothers, he always had those early morning workouts to be better.
“We’ve been training together for as long as I can walk since I was four or five years old,” Kilgore said. “We’ve been training together. Our dad has been through every summer, we’ll wake up early in the morning before he goes to work and workout and when he gets off work workout and then do another workout with our little rec team. I’ve been doing this for a long time.”
