William Gholston
![]() Gholston with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 | |||||
Personal information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | July 31, 1991||||
Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||
Weight: | 281 lb (127 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Southeastern (Detroit, Michigan) | ||||
College: | Michigan State (2010–2012) | ||||
Position: | Defensive end | ||||
NFL draft: | 2013: 4th round, 126th pick | ||||
Career history | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
| |||||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2024 | |||||
|
William Gholston (born July 31, 1991) is an American professional football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Michigan State, and was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft.[1]
Early life
A native of
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated as the third best strong side defensive end in the nation.[3] He accepted a scholarship from Michigan State University over offers from Michigan and Ohio State.
College career
Gholston enrolled in
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 6+1⁄4 in (1.99 m) |
281 lb (127 kg) |
34 in (0.86 m) |
10+3⁄8 in (0.26 m) |
4.96 s | 1.75 s | 2.89 s | 4.59 s | 7.20 s | 28.5 in (0.72 m) |
9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) |
23 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine[5][6] |
On January 3, 2013, Gholston announced he would forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.[7] On April 27, 2013, Gholston was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round with the 126th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.[8] The Buccaneers previously acquired the pick used to select Gholston from the New England Patriots in a trade that sent Aqib Talib to New England. Gholston signed his contract on May 14, 2013, and his four-year deal is worth $2,560,544; it included a $400,544 signing bonus.
He finished his rookie season in 2013 as a rotational player earning 30 combined tackles (14 solo) and two quarterback sacks.[9]
In 2014, he became the team's starter at left end for the defensive line when an injury to Adrian Clayborn put Clayborn on the IR list ending his season. He eventually lost the starting job to waiver wire pick up Jacquies Smith and was relegated to rotational duties for the remainder of the 2014 season. He finished the year with 41 combined tackles (27 solo) and two quarterback sacks.[10]
Gholston played in all 16 games while starting 11 in 2015. He amassed 67 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble from his defensive end position.[11] In 2016, he recorded 49 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.[12]

On March 6, 2017, Gholston signed a five-year contract extension with the Buccaneers.[13][14]
Gholston was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 4, 2020,[15] and activated three days later.[16] Gholston played in all four games in the Buccaneers' playoff run that resulted in the team winning Super Bowl LV.[17][18]
On March 24, 2022, Gholston re-signed with the Buccaneers.[19] He played in 17 games with nine starts, recording 49 tackles.[20]
Gholston re-signed with the Buccaneers on July 25, 2023.[21]
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
---|---|
Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2013 | TAM | 12 | 2 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | TAM | 15 | 9 | 42 | 28 | 14 | 2.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | TAM | 16 | 11 | 67 | 47 | 20 | 3.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | TAM | 14 | 14 | 49 | 37 | 12 | 3.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | TAM | 14 | 10 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 0.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | TAM | 16 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | TAM | 16 | 8 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 1.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | TAM | 16 | 12 | 44 | 24 | 20 | 3.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
2021 | TAM | 17 | 10 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 4.5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2022 | TAM | 17 | 9 | 49 | 24 | 25 | 0.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2023 | TAM | 16 | 1 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 169 | 88 | 420 | 259 | 161 | 19.5 | 58 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2020 | TAM | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2021 | TAM | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2022 | TAM | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2023 | TAM | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
9 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
He is a cousin of former Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Vernon Gholston.[22]
Just prior to the start of the 2021 NFL season, Gholston started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Cassio Cardosi and has used the martial art to help prepare for the season.[23]
References
- ^ "William Gholston, DE, Michigan State, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ^ Lesmerises, Doug (September 28, 2012). "Ohio State's Johnathan Hankins to see former high school teammate, Michigan State's William Gholston, when Buckeyes play Spartans on Saturday". cleveland.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ^ "William Gholston – Yahoo! Sports". Rivals.yahoo.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ^ "William Gholston College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "William Gholston Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ "William Gholston, Michigan State, DE, 2013 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Mulholland, Mike (January 3, 2013). "Report: William Gholston becomes third Michigan State player to declare for NFL draft". MLive.com. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ^ "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "William Gholston 2013 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "William Gholston 2014 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "William Gholston 2015 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "William Gholston 2016 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Scott (March 6, 2017). "Will Gholston Gets Five-Year Deal". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (March 6, 2017). "William Gholston agrees to five-year Bucs extension". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Scott (November 4, 2020). "Buccaneers Place DL Will Gholston on Reserve/COVID-19 List". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ Easterling, Luke (November 7, 2020). "Bucs activate DL William Gholston from Reserve/COVID-19 list". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (February 7, 2017). "What we learned from Buccaneers win over Chiefs in Super Bowl LV". NFL.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "Super Bowl LV – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 7th, 2021". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Scott (March 24, 2022). "Will Gholston Signs On for 10th Season in Tampa". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ "William Gholston 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Scott (July 25, 2023). "Will Gholston Returns for 11th Season with Bucs". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ "William Gholston Bio – Michigan State Official Athletic Site". Msuspartans.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ^ Burne, Kathrine (December 4, 2021). "NFL Lineman Will Gholston Says BJJ Is 'Harder Than Football Practice'". Jitsmagazine.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
External links
- Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · Yahoo Sports
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio
- Michigan State Spartans bio