Earlier this week, South Carolina defensive back Jalon Kilgore appeared on The Welcome Home Podcast.
During this interview, Kilgore hit on multiple topics including the mood of the team after last season, how players and positional groups are coming along, and some thoughts on quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Below are some of the key talking points that stood out from the interview.
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Q: How personal did this team take not making a bowl game last season and what impact has that already had on this year’s team?
JK: “The day we came back from December break, you could tell (Shane Beamer) had a different edge to him. Nobody likes sitting at home but everybody did. It wasn’t just him. When he was talking (in that first team meeting) everybody was shaking their head because we feel the same way. Nobody likes sitting at home watching other teams play in bowl games. So, it wasn’t just him, everybody had that edge. Even the transfer coming in. They don’t want to be at home (for bowl season). They’re coming in trying to help us win. So everybody has the same mindset. It’s a different mentality this year.”
Q: What have the linebackers looked like in practice?
JK: “The first day of pads, I thought somebody was gonna die. I’m not gonna lie. Everybody knows how Debo (Williams) is. He’s coming to take your head off and kill you. Now at linebacker, we have four of them. So everybody (at that position) is thinking like that now. In practices, linebackers are crushing the running backs. But the running backs are coming at them too, though. It’s not like the running backs aren’t responding back. They’ve coming with it too.
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Q: Who are two newcomers, one on offense and one on defense, who’ve impressed you so far?
JK: “On offense, I would say Mazeo (Bennett). Mazeo has definitely been looking good on offense. He’s given us a good look in practice and real game reps. He likes to get at it. He likes to compete and that’s what I like about him… Defensively, everybody already knows about Dylan (Stewart). So somebody else, I would say safety David Bucey. He’s been looking real good. That boy, he’s a country-Georgia boy for real. He’s coming down to smack something. He’s not playing. In the weight room, he reminds me of me. He never misses a rep, never considered the weak link — he’s trying to get somebody’s spot. That’s what I like about him.”
Q: What’s the mindset of LaNorris Sellers behind the scenes and what’s it like watching him?
JK: “He’s trying to make an impact right now. He’s not saying, ‘I’m getting comfortable this year and then next year I’m gonna(take off).’ He’s trying to go in this year and go and do it by having a great season and by putting the team on his back. (He) wants to show people that he’s ready. I’ve been seeing these little (QB) rankings. Some have him in (the mix) and some don’t. I think he’s gonna go out there and prove that he’s really coming in to be that top QB in the SEC and to be the face for QBs in college football. He’s not trying to wait. He’s coming in to change the whole program around and that’s what I like about him.”
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The way he works, the way he studies, on and off the field. You won’t see LaNorris in any type of trouble. He knows how to speak right and lift the team up. This year he’s started to become more of a vocal leader. Last year, he really didn’t have to be because he had Spencer (Rattler)… But this year, he realized he had to come out of that shell. If he has to get on you to do right he’s gonna do that. It doesn’t matter who it is. If he sees someone doing something that could hurt the team, he’s gonna call you out on it.”
Q: What did last season teach you about this team?
JK: “I don’t think we were using our full potential. There were a couple of bumps in the road that we could’ve got over but we just didn’t. There were a lot of little things. It was never like, we didn’t have the talent. We’ve got some of the best players in college football. It was just little things that we weren’t completing. It was (missed) plays, mishaps and mistakes, and also injuries that could’ve led us to a few more wins.”
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