Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
Size:
Height: 6025
Weight: 264
Arm: 31 ⅞”
Hand: 8 ½”
Accomplishments:
Second-Team All-ACC (2024) • First-Team All-ACC (2023)
“Ashton Gillotte is a powerfully built, alignment-versatile defensive lineman with an outstanding combination of speed and strength that allows him to live in the opposing backfield.”
Strengths:
Plays with excellent extension in the run game
Explosiveness
Leg drive and power
Heavy hands
Constantly hot motor
Concerns:
Hand counters
Tweener
Film Analysis:
Ashton Gillotte enters the draft process as one of the ACC’s premier defensive linemen with more than 120 total pressures (sacks+hurries+hits) in the last two seasons, headlined by 15 sacks in that same time frame. He does not have ideal length and has a bit of a sawed-off build, but his explosiveness and production up and down a defensive front projects immediately to the NFL level that prioritizes versatility and vertical push from the front four.
Gillotte is a powerfully built, alignment-versatile defensive lineman with an outstanding combination of speed and strength that allows him to live in the opposing backfield. He aligns primarily head-up on the offensive tackle, but is comfortable at 5-tech, 3-tech, or as a wide-nine rusher. Gillotte has also shown comfortability in a two or three-point stance.
As a pass rusher, Gillotte will remain a focal point for offensive lines to locate before each snap. Blocking him one-on-one often leads to plays breaking down quickly. Gillotte’s ability to produce up and down the defensive line paints the picture of a future impact pro. He has an excellent get-off at his size that stems from his ability to generate large amounts of force through his lower half. He plays with excellent leverage and uses the length he has well. Can win in a variety of ways, but won’t get cute if he understands he can simply overpower his opponents (walked back Notre Dame’s LG six yards into the pocket).
Gillotte has showcased excellent flexibility for an athlete of his stature that allows him to take short angles to the pocket. Excellent twister up front that is a nightmare to block with a full head of steam. Tends to target the outside shoulder as a 5-tech—that can limit his success against more athletic tackles—but his twitch and power are nearly elite traits when working the interior. However, Gillotte is a bit of a tweener at this point in his evaluation considering his size. He plays off contact well and is someone who constantly fights toward the pocket, even if his initial rush plan is foiled.
Against the run, Gillotte does well to peek and pursue, locking out with ease against a variety of skill sets. Highly productive run defender whose alignment-versatility also shows up on early downs (14.5 TFLs in 2023, 9 in 2024). Has no issue in anchoring against double teams or providing a vertical push to clog alleys early in the play. Punch timing and placement can, at times, be inconsistent, but Gillotte has flashes of dominance up front that will force teams to audible away from his side. Good lateral agility to engage, shuffle, and then attack downhill. Gillotte also plays with a constantly hot motor, where he can chase plays to the fringe areas or from the backside.
The biggest concern is whether Gillotte will make his most immediate impact as a primary EDGE or within the interior. At this time, he fits the mold of a larger, heavier, throwback edge prospect, but is too light to live within the heart of a defensive line. However, his success at a variety of spots could mask those questions for teams in need of a versatile and athletic playmaker at nearly 270 pounds.
Overall, Gillotte is seemingly just scratching the surface of what he can be as a three-down lineman. Considering his strength and movement skills to counter the run, along with his blend of speed and power on passing downs, he’s a potential high-impact defender who can impact a ballgame in a variety of ways.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Ryan Fowler
Exposures: Notre Dame (2024), Miami (2024), Clemson (2024), Notre Dame (2023), Duke (2023), Kentucky (2023)
