Gerald Kilgore no stranger to earning what he wants
Although he’s the brother of All-American defensive Jalon Kilgore, don’t get things twisted. Gerald Kilgore arrives at South Carolina eager to make a name for himself the same way his brother and him did in Georgia at Putnam County High School.
“We ran it. We definitely ran the high school,” Gerald Kilgore said with a smile. “They had a saying all around the school, ‘Kilgore to Kilgore,” because I was at quarterback and he was at receiver. I used to throw him touchdowns and that’s all you used to hear on the intercom.”
Playing defensive back once he got to college, he quickly shined at Tennessee Tech before transferring to South Carolina in December. He put in the work and his play allowed him the opportunity to go from FCS to FBS. But that’s a mindset that he learned at a young age while growing up in a home that has a military background.
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“My dad has been on our heads for — forever. He was telling us at five, six years old that he wasn’t paying for college and he definitely stuck to that. I have an older brother as well and he had the opportunity to be on a track scholarship when he was in college. He just graduated last year with a nursing degree. So he was fortunate to go through school without having to pay for anything. The things that my dad instilled in me and instilled in all (of his children) has really stuck… Being able to communicate, keep your head down, keep working hard, not giving up on yourself, all of those things have shown up throughout my (life) as well as my brothers’ as well.”
As grateful as Gerald is to play alongside his brother again, that wasn’t the only factor that went into his decision to commit to South Carolina.
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“This could’ve been a perfect situation for him but it might not have been a perfect situation for me. But after praying and talking with my family, we decided that this would definitely be the best decision for me. Getting a chance to play with him and be around him everyday, it’s nothing new. It feels like old times like being back at home, being together, and working out together.”
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Watching his brother from afar last year, Gerald became even more impressed with defensive back coach Torrian Gray once he had a chance to speak with him. Another reason why he felt playing for the Gamecocks would be the best fit for him.
“Coach Gray is amazing. He’s an amazing coach. The amount of guys that he’s (helped) touch that NFL stage is something that you want to be part of. He’s the type of guy that if you put the work in, stick your head down, and stay to it, he’s gonna allow you to show your talent and for you to get to that next level… I’m still a young guy, considering I still have three years of eligibility left. If I get a chance to be under coach Gray for these next two to three seasons, I mean, I can’t do anything but get ready and build myself up for that stage.”
