Louisville defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte (9) thanked fans before leaving the field after the Louisville Cardinals faced off against the Florida State Seminoles at Bank of America Field in Charlotte, NC. FSU defeated Louisville 16-6 to win the 2023 ACC Championship. Dec. 2, 2023.
Ashton Gillotte DE/EDGE Louisville | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Ashton Gillotte DE/EDGE Louisville
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE/DE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/04/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.75 seconds (69%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE/DE | |
| Last Updated: 03/04/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.75 seconds (69%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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76% |
| Pass Rush: |
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98% |
| Run Defense: |
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92% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#95
Position rank:
#26
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 2027 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 85/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Josh Paschal - Kentucky |
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91% |
| Felix Anudike-Uzomah - Kansas State |
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82% |
| Marshawn Kneeland - Western Michigan |
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78% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A former three-star recruit who transformed himself into one of college football's most technically refined pass rushers, Ashton Gillotte emerged as a defensive force during his time at Louisville. The Boca Raton native's journey from a two-way high school player to First-team All-ACC defender showcases his remarkable development. After appearing in 12 games as a true freshman, Gillotte's steady progression led to a breakout 2023 campaign where he racked up 11 sacks and earned Second-team All-American honors from multiple outlets. While his sack numbers dipped to 4.5 in his final 2024 season, he remained a consistent defensive presence, recording 43 total tackles across 12 games.The 6'3", 275-pound edge defender's academic excellence matches his on-field prowess, as evidenced by his selection to the ACC All-Academic team and CSC Academic All-American honors. His 2023 season was particularly noteworthy, featuring a career-defining performance against Boston College with three sacks and a momentum-shifting showing versus Notre Dame where he forced a crucial fumble. The consistent disruption he provided helped anchor Louisville's defensive front.
Gillotte's high school career at Boca Raton set the foundation for his college success, where he excelled as both a defensive end and tight end. His athletic versatility extended beyond football, as he competed in weightlifting at the state championship level and ranked in the Southeast region's top 25 for CrossFit. This multi-sport background helped develop the explosive power that would become his calling card at Louisville.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List - ranked #58. He wrote "The 6-2 Gillotte has added a dozen pounds or so and is now up to 276 but still has hit 19.9 mph on the GPS and vertical-jumped 36 inches. He power-cleans 390, but strength coach Ben Sowders said he could probably do 405. “He’s so explosive.”"
- Generates exceptional closing burst for his size, hitting elite GPS speeds (19.9 mph) that show up when chasing down plays from the backside
- Demolishes pass protection with explosive first contact, consistently jolting tackles backward while maintaining active feet through engagement
- Shows shocking play strength at 276 pounds, particularly when setting the edge against larger tackles and steering pulling guards into the backfield
- Displays advanced recognition against zone schemes, maintaining backside containment while working down the line with disciplined pursuit angles
- Demonstrates impressive counter-rush diversity off his power moves, seamlessly transitioning to rips and swims when tackles overcommit to anchor
- Exhibits natural leverage advantages with his compact frame, consistently getting underneath taller tackles' pads to drive them backward
- Brings elite weight room strength to the field, showing up in his ability to stack, shed, and control blocks at the point of attack
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Limited arm length can allow longer tackles to get their hands on him first, negating his explosive first step and power advantage
- Still developing consistency in translating his athletic testing numbers into bend-and-corner ability around the edge
- Can occasionally play too aggressively downhill, creating vulnerability against misdirection and screen plays
- Shows some stiffness when changing direction in space, particularly when forced to redirect against mobile quarterbacks
- Needs to expand his pass rush setup moves to maximize his exceptional closing burst and power
Scouting Report: Summary
Gillotte emerges as one of the most intriguing edge defenders in this class, combining elite explosive testing numbers with refined technical skills that should translate immediately to the NFL level. His appearance on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List backs up what the tape shows - a powerhouse athlete with shocking closing speed for his size. While he may lack prototypical length, his combination of explosive power and play strength makes him a strong candidate to hear his name called in the second round.Scheme fit will be crucial for maximizing Gillotte's unique athletic profile. He profiles best as a strong-side end in an even front where his explosive first step and elite power can be weaponized. His exceptional burst makes him particularly dangerous on stunts and twists, while his verified weight room strength (390-pound power clean) shows up consistently when setting the edge. Smart defensive coordinators will recognize his versatility to reduce inside on passing downs while maintaining the explosiveness to threaten the edge.
This is a prospect whose testing numbers match his tape, showing a player ready to contribute immediately while offering significant upside as he continues developing his pass-rush arsenal. His combination of verified athletic traits, technical refinement, and consistent production mark him as one of the more complete edge prospects in this class.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
Ashton Gillotte percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Ashton Gillotte (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
90.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
31.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.