Louisville football player named to Lombardi Award watchlist

The Louisville football program has lost a lot of skill players on the offensive side of the ball. It might be hard for them to move the ball consistently early in the season while they feel some things out. While that happens, the defense is going to have to carry them.

Louisville's defense is pretty stout. They are led by stud defensive end Ashton Gillotte. Gillotte is the best defender the Cardinals have and he might be the best defender in the ACC period. He's one of the best defensive linemen anywhere in the country.

Gillotte has been named to a couple of preseason award watchlists already. Now, he has been named to another one. He is on the Rotary Lombardi Award watchlist. The Lombardi Award is given to a lineman or a linebacker who doesn't line up further than five yards deeper than the line of scrimmage.

Louisville football player Ashton Gillotte named to Lombardi Award preseason watchlist

As one of the best past rushers in the country, he has a shot to really help the Cardinals out in a big way. He had 11 sacks a year ago. If he can increase that number to 15 or higher, he has a chance to win this award. He's a solid player who is a true difference-maker.

Gillotte is racking up the preseason honors as we are just a couple of weeks away from them kicking off their 2024 season against Austin Peay. Of course, it's not about what happens before the season that matters. He wants to make sure he contributes to winning on the field during the season.

If the Louisville Cardinals expect to be contenders for the College Football Playoff, they need their best players to be at their best. Gillotte certainly falls under that category. How well he deals with double teams will determine the success of the defensive line as a whole.