Ironhead Gallon

2016 – All-Sun Belt First Team
2016 – All-Sun Belt First Team (Phil Steele)
2015 – All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention

2015-16: Played in all 13 games, starting 12 … An honorable mention selection to the All-Sun Belt squad … Recorded 81 total tackles (39u, 42a) with 1.5 sacks for a loss of 12 yards and two blocked kicks … Finished second on the team in tackles … Also had 4.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and three pass breakups … Recorded eight total tackles, including half a sack for a loss of 3 yards against West Virginia … Posted seven total tackles against Western Michigan … Had seven total tackles against The Citadel … Had six total tackles, one quarterback hurry and a blocked punt against Idaho … In the UL Monroe game, blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown … Finished the game with 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss … Posted six tackles against New Mexico State … Had to sit out the first half of the Appalachian State game after being disqualified in the New Mexico State game for targeting … Still recorded seven tackles against the Mountaineers … Had six tackles, five of which were solo, and a quarterback hurry against Texas State … Registered 10 tackles in the loss at Georgia and five tackles in the loss against Georgia State … Finished the season strong against Bowling Green in the GoDaddy Bowl, recording three tackles, including a 9-yard sack, in the win … Had a 31-yard interception for a touchdown in the Spring Game.

2014-15: Played in all 12 games … Tallied 44 tackles (25u, 19a) … Had 10 tackles at New Mexico State … Also had eight stops against Idaho … Totaled 6.0 tackles for loss on the season with 1.5 against Idaho and Georgia State … Had 3.0 sacks on the season … Grabbed his first career interception at New Mexico State, returning it for 24 yards … Blocked kicks against Appalachian State and UL Monroe.

2013-14: Played in two games … Missed the remainder of the season due to injury, granted a medical hardship waiver … Credited with three total tackles vs. Saint Francis (Pa.).

2012-13: Saw action in eight games, mostly on special teams … Made the cut for a roster spot for all three postseason games … Picked off pass during annual spring game and returned it for 27 yards … Credited with solo tackles on return coverage vs. Jacksonville and Central Arkansas.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played for head coach Mike Coe at Madison County High School in Madison, FL … Finished the season with 125 tackles, four picks and five forced fumbles … Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals … Earned 2011 First-Team Class 3A All-State honors … Named all-district his senior season … Selected to the Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend Team in 2011 … Named to the Miami Herald Class 1A-2A-3A-4A All-Tournament Team … Recorded nine tackles in the Florida Class 3A State Championship Game against American Heritage … Helped team to a 13-2 record that included a perfect 6-0 home mark … Lettered four times in football and served as team captain three times … Received FHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award … Named Mr. Madison County High School in a vote by the school’s faculty.

PERSONAL: Born Deshawntee Gallon on January 18, 1994 in Madison, FL … Nicknamed “Ironhead” as a child by his father … Son of Shawn and Tamecca Gallon … Has five siblings: Jalesa, Davontee, Shawn, Ca’shiya and Davyon.

MAJOR: General Studies

Ironhead Gallon Highlights

Leaving high school Gallon was roughly 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds. He was recruited to safety at Georgia Southern and as his body grew his coaches decided the place Gallon at linebacker.

He made a very successful transition to the new position. Gallon quickly adapted after moving to linebacker his red shirt sophomore year and earned Sun Belt Honorable Mention his junior season.

He was also not on the list of potential first team Sun Belt talents, but in fact was named First Team Sun Belt at the linebacker position his senior year. The Madison, Florida, native had 102 tackles, including 6.0 for loss, six pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Undersized to play linebacker at the next level but athletic enough to play safety at the next level. His field speed and awareness are natural gifts that allow him to react quickly. Gallon stands out at stuffing running lanes, and his coverage skills are on par to succeed. Covering slot receivers and anticapting passes are strong suits to his game. Evidence by his six pass breakups.

Spent time at safety and shows good short area quickness and burst to the football. Does not over commit on plays and stays with in the confines of his assignments. Team oriented and molded to lead.

Gallon will be looked to play safety again due to size restraints 5-foot-11 and 211 pounds. Possible NFL comparisons if a team wished to keep him at linebacker would be Los Angeles Rams Mark Barron and Arizona Cardinals Deone Bucannon in terms of size and ability. Dallas Cowboys safety J.J. Wilcox another Georgia Southern alum compares favorably due to the requirements asked by the Eagles defensive staff.

Flying under the radar most of the season, he will fight the up hill battle of gaining traction as the months build toward the NFL Draft. Very capable CFL prospect if the NFL does not pan out immediately.