Louisville football saw four former players compete at the NFL Combine from Feb. 27 through March 2.
The Combine is the best opportunity for players trying to improve their NFL Draft stock, and rise up in the NFL Draft. The scouting combine took place at the Lucas Oil Stadium, located in Indianapolis, Ind. The combine lasted four days, and each position was designated a specific day and group to participate in.
Louisville Cardinals program was only represented three of the four days, as Cardinals offensive line didn't recieve an invitation, so none will participate today. So, with that being said, Louisville fans saw Ashton Gillotte, Quincy Riley, Tyler Shough, and Ja'Corey Brooks all participate this week and while some made huge improvements in their draft stock, others might have stayed constant or dropped in their NFL Draft stock.
So, here are Louisville football's biggest winners and losers from the 2025 NFL Combine.
Louisville football NFL Combine winners
Quarterback: Tyler Shough
It is no surprise that the biggest winner of Louisville representatives is quarterback, Tyler Shough. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback not only came top two in all activities his participated in for quarterbacks, but he also displayed raw emotion after his impressive 40-yard dash.
Shough ran a 4.63 40-yard dash, and for throwing activities demonstreated his ability to throw darts all over the field. His mobility and arm strength were displayed all weekend long, and Louis Riddick took to X, and even stated he is the most "polished' quarterback of the weekend.
Shough is projected to be as high as a second-round draft pick, but will be anywhere between second round pick and a fourth-round pick.
Cornerback: Quincy Riley
The former Louisville football lockdown cornerback displayed his football tracking ability, and quickness on Friday afternoon. Riley's feet were one of the quickest in his position as he displayed speed and ability to make cuts in his drills.
The 5-foot-11, 194-pound cornerback ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, and proved his speed is one of the best in the draft. Between his ability to backpedal, cut, and tremendous ball-tracking ability, Riley proved to be one of the best options at cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Quincy Riley secured 21 tackles, two interceptions, and one force fumble in the Cardinals 2024 season. In his full college career he had 159 total tackles, including 106 solo, 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 13 interceptions, 34 passes deflections, 1 forced fumble, and 2 touchdowns. Riley is projected to be a second round draft pick in the NFL Draft.
Louisville football NFL Combine losers
Edge rusher-Ashton Gillotte
Ashton Gillote was Louisville Cardinals edge rusher, and while he displayed his inner High School weight lifting champion, and repped 225-pounds 24 times on bench, he unfortunaltey didn't impress many.
Erick Trickel, of Sports Illustrated, labeled him a 'loser' of the NFL Combine in Edge Rushers position.
""This one is tough because Downs' issue seemed to be in his head. Watching how he worked through the drills, everything seemed calculated instead of going with the flow and relying on his training, although it's impossible to know what he was thinking.""Erick Trickel
The edge rusher out of Boca Raton, Fla. measured at 6-foot-3 and 264-pounds, and the arm length of 31-and-7/8" and hands length of 8.5".
Last season Gillote played every game with Louisville, and secured 43 total tackles, including 23 solo tackles, and 4.5 sacks. In 2023 Gillote earned first team All-ACC, and second team All-American with his 45 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks.
Gillote is projected to be around a third-round draft pick.
Wide receiver- Ja’Corey Brooks
Ja'Corey Brooks not necessarily was a 'loser' of the NFL Combine, but he didn't participate in any of the drills. The Cardinals wide receiver measured at 6-foot-1, 191-pounds, and has the projection to be a backup or maybe utilized on special teams.
The Cardinals No. 1 wide receiver last year was absolutley lethal as he brought in 61 catches for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned All-ACC honors and secured five games with 100 receiving yards or more. He was the first Louisville football wide receirve to bring in 1,000 yards through the air since 2022.
Louisville football wide receiver is projected to be around a six-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place April 24 and run until April 26, in Green Bay Wis.