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1 DAY TO 2019 KICKOFF: Eric Gallon II

In which BracketCat counts down the last day until the 2019 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State linebacker Eric Gallon II.

By BracketCat
#1 Eric Gallon
Bill Snyder’s retirement also means the retirement of his unofficial policy that none of his players could wear the No. 1 jersey, which also, also means that Eric Gallon II finally can take over the jersey number popularized by his halfback father.
Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images

Goal No. 1: COMMITMENT. To common goals and to being successful.

#1 Eric Gallon II

Redshirt Senior | 6-2 | 216 lbs. | Lakeland, Florida
Eric Gallon II
Eric Gallon II
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
  • Position: Linebacker
  • Previous College: University of Virginia
  • Projection: Second-String
  • Status: On Scholarship?

Eric Leon Gallon II (b. Aug. 20, 1996) was a highly-touted player out of high school who transferred to K-State prior to the 2017 season and sat out an NCAA mandatory redshirt year. He saw action in three games in 2018, making a tackle against UTSA.

In a rare accomplishment, Gallon started at linebacker for both sides in the 2018 spring game. He had one solo tackle for the White team and three solo tackles for the Purple team.

A transfer linebacker from Virginia, Gallon was a three-star recruit out of Lakeland (Fla.) Christian School in 2015, according to 247Sports.

He played his senior prep season for the Vikings under head coach Wayne Peace, carding 96 tackles, four sacks and an interception to help Lakeland Christian to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the Class 3A state semifinal round.

Gallon, who earned honorable mention all-state honors, played his sophomore and junior seasons at George Jenkins High School, recording 163 tackles and five sacks in two years.

He chose Virginia over offers from Army, Cincinnati, South Florida and Western Kentucky, among others, and played two seasons for the Cavaliers.

Gallon saw action in five games as a true freshman in 2015, including a start against North Carolina in which he made one tackle against the Tar Heels before leaving with a season-ending injury.

He played in 10 games as a sophomore for the Cavaliers, carding a tackle against Oregon.

His father, Eric, was a running back for the Wildcats from 1989 to 1992, rushing for 1,960 yards to rank 11th in school history.

Eric Sr., now the assistant head coach and running backs coach at Division III Brevard (N.C.) College, also was a captain as a senior in 1992.

His nephew (and Eric Gallon II’s cousin), Jeremy, played wide receiver at Michigan from 2010 to 2013.