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USC filled out their need at safety Wednesday night with a commitment from Jalon Kilgore (6-2 196) of Eatonton, GA. He’s the third safety commitment in the class joining Zahbari Sandy and Cameron Upshaw of Perry, FL. Kilgore chose the Gamecocks from a short list that he listed as Clemson, Oklahoma, Michigan and Tennessee Tech.
Kilgore took his official visit to USC last weekend, a week after visiting Oklahoma. He also visited both schools for their spring games. The Gamecocks were one of the first schools to recruit him with sincere interest. Head coach Shane Beamer and secondary coach Torrian Gray never relented in their pursuit and that paid off for them in the end.
“They just didn’t fall off in their recruitment, they just didn’t offer and forget about me,” Kilgore said after his announcement. “They stuck with me through the entire process from January until now. Coach Beamer told me he had a plan, and I was seeing that plan throughout the whole season. I was seeing that plan through the recruiting process. I have my faith in Coach Beamer and Coach Gray and I believe we can have a really big impact in the SEC.”
Kilgore also visited USC three other times prior to his official visit, including the weekend of the spring game in April. Those visits also gave him a good feel for the program.
“It’s about the culture there,” Kilgore said in May. “I really love the school. I love the culture and the coaches and the type of energy I get from them. They like my aggressiveness and size. They said they can use me in a lot different places on their defense.”
Kilgore also said recently that playing under Gray’s watchful eyes will be a boost to his career.
“He knows how to get to the guys and get in their heads what to do,” Kilgore said. “He makes sure that you understand before you even step on the field. When you step on the field, you’ll know exactly what to do. If you don’t, there’s a new guy coming up. He doesn’t seem like the type who plays favorite. He’s going to play with those who are the better players and who are the best for the team. I really love how he coaches.”
Last season Kilgore was in on 88 tackles with 8 pass break ups and 4 forced fumbles. He also played receiver and caught 37 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Kilgore gives the Gamecocks six commitments for their 2023 class.
USC 2023 commitments:
TROVON BAUGH OT 6-4 315 ATLANTA
ZAHBARI SANDY SAF 6-1 204 WASHINGTON, DC
CAMERON UPSHAW SAF 6-3 175 PERRY, FL
JALON KILGORE SAF 6-2 196 EATONTON, GA
CONNOR COX TE 6-6 227 JACKSONVILLE
KELTON HENDERSON WR 5-11 175 LEHIGH ACRES, FL
