Gamecocks' Kilgore Drafted by Bills

0:00On April 25, South Carolina keeps the draft train rolling for the eighth straight year, with three gamecocks hearing their names called. Cornerback Brandon Sissy went in the second round to the Green Bay Packers, defensive tackle Nick Barrett landed in the fifth with the L.A. Chargers. And then defensive back Julyon Kilgore got picked by the Buffalo Bills at number 167 overall in the fifth round, that last one caught everyone off guard. Kilgore was projected as the first or second gamecock off the board, with Mox even linking him to spots as high as 85 overall after round. One, instead he slid 82 picks further before Buffalo scooped him up. Kilgore shone bright at South Carolina, earning freshman All-American honors in 2023 at Nickel & Safety. He started at Safety in 2024, with 48 tackles and 5 picks, tying for the SEC lead, then posted 54 tackles and 10. Past breakups as an all SEC second team relashier, despite a 4 and 8 season.

1:01The 6 foot 1, uh, 207 pound Georgia native, stepped up as a captain too. Scouts see high upside in his athleticism and ball skills, but question his fit outside Nickel may be best ranging deep at Safety. Still, his size and leadership may make him a bet worth taking. This marks the 8th South Carolina defensive back, drafted since 2021, extending a pipeline that's pumping talent straight to the pros, and keeping gamecock fans hyped for more.