Will Gholston’s Surprise Season
December 4th, 2015
Lot of growth this year.
When former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik drafted Will Gholston in the fourth round, in what turned out to be his final draft with the Bucs, he got a guy with a boatload of raw talent.
But some thought it would never be harnessed because Gholston (incorrectly) had the label of a wild man.
While he showed a flash or two under then-Bucs commander Greg Schiano, it appears that talent has finally been unleashed. During his weekly presser, Bucs defensive coordinator in name, Leslie Frazier, heaped loads of praise on the Michigan State product for raising his game.
“I was talking to Joe Cullen, our D-line coach, about Will [Wednesday] night,” Frazier said. “I just think back to a year ago when we first got here and we were looking at him going through the bags and we were like, ‘Man, this guy is going to take some work to get to where we want him to be.’ But he’s a hard-working guy who has a lot of ability and he puts in the time.
“I don’t think anybody has come as far as he has in as short a period of time. He’s playing extremely well for us. He’s the kind of guy you like to keep on the field as much as possible. [He’s] not the kind of edge rusher, per se, but he finds a way when we put him inside or at the left end position. He has a lot of value. He has really helped our team, our defense for sure.”
Frazier added that Gholston is so good against the run, he and Akeem Spence are the reason why Colts running back Frank Gore was a non-factor last week.
Bucs coach Lovie Smith also is a big fan of Gholston’s progress.
“When we first got here he was a guy we knew a little bit about him, probably on the outside looking in,” Lovie said. “Now he is one of the guys we’re counting on each week playing multiple positions, starting at defensive end position, can play inside, and has been kind of a rock as far as staying away from injuries. Again, he’s the kind of guy that we’re counting on right now. He’s everything we want him to be.
“That guy is valuable, a guy that can play on tight ends first and second downs, could play inside at three-technique, under tackle on passing downs. As far as untapped potential he has a lot of it. He’s a green player. [He went] from a guy on the outside looking in to a guy now that we are counting on in year two.”
It’s good to see a guy like Gholston finally make it. He grew up in harsh conditions in Michigan, being passed from family member to family member as a child, and at one point in high school lived in a car.
It’s good to see good things happen to good people.
Damn that Dominik!
December 4th, 2015 at 7:13 am
Now Now Joe. For every Will G there is a Barron, Price, and My-Lew. I understand you love you some Markie D. Let’s see how Jason Licht does in say 3 years. So far Licht has made some damn good picks from Pamphile, to Kwon, and the monster known as Ali.
December 4th, 2015 at 7:41 am
I have always liked these two guys. Hopefully they continue to develop into beasts. We still need a probowl caliber DE.
December 4th, 2015 at 8:06 am
Wow, Dominik stumbled upon a few good players during his tenure of blowing complete drafts. Congrats, it only took Gholson how long to “have success”. I wonder how many DEs with more production we passed up to get him. If he’s such a success why are more than likely drafting 2 DEs in the draft next year? Hmmm…Joe, ask Licht and Lovie what they think about the job Mark did. We’re still trying to draft out of the hole he dug the franchise in. He never drafted one offensive lineman, remember? Mark Dominik was not good at his job, he sucked, which is why he works for your favorite network and not in the nfl.
December 4th, 2015 at 8:07 am
Yeah, Schiano improved our drafting for sure.
December 4th, 2015 at 8:19 am
now just lose the dumb penalties and you can become the resident x factor on the d-line.
December 4th, 2015 at 8:24 am
this is the type of player that year-in year-out good teams are built on. a versatile and productive homegrown piece who can be locked up for the long term without commanding star or starter salary.
December 4th, 2015 at 8:28 am
In Leslie Frazier’s words when he first got here … ‘Man, this guy is going to take some work to get to where we want him to be.’
Obvious question … “What did Will Gholston learn under Greg Schiano and his D-Line coach?’ Apparently not much in the way of fundamentals it sounds like.
I think Will’s got a tremendous upside. It’s great to have a couple of DEs of his size who can rotate inside when necessary and who are excellent against the run. May not get a ton of QB sacks, but he’ll get his share of QB pressures. And the other team is going to know they’re in a dogfight while he’s on the field.
December 4th, 2015 at 8:50 am
Hope at the end of the 2, or the beginning of the 3rd.
We can add the other kid from Michigan State; DE Shilique Calhoun. I really like how this kid plays the run.
He still developing, but he has the potential to be – a real good pass rusher down the line.
December 4th, 2015 at 9:09 am
While he showed a flash or two under then-Bucs commander Greg Schiano, it appears that talent has finally been unleashed.
OK Joe…now you’re just trolling the Lovie haters. LMAO Don’t worry Lovie haters we realize that he had NOTHING to do with Gholston’s improvement..that credit goes to Cullen who was brought here by…..oh noes..there’s that dang Lovie name again.
LUVMYBUCS
I’m with you bro. I remember saying I thought Bosa was OK against MSU but not a real “franchise player”. Maybe he had an off game. I’ve watched several of OSU’s games this year and Bosa is good but he didn’t seem like a major disruptive force. TBBF pointed out maybe we should be looking at the MSU defensive players they’re the ones that are kicking butt this year.
I’d like to take Calhoun as well..as part of a two DE draft to give ourselves the best shot of getting a great DE. If both work out awesome…with 50% of picks on average making it…two will at least give us our best shot. I Licht has a draft like last year and finds two…wow bookends!!!
Calhoun is listed as the 5th best DE prospect by Walter football and Nkemdiche is just ahead at 4th. I’d love to work some deals…maybe MG8 in the mix and be able to nab them both.
If we built a truly stout DL our DB’s will instantly look better…and we can always pick up help there in later rounds and FA.
I’m still lusting for FSU’s Aguayo, I’d love to have a dominant kicker like Janikowski or Vinateri, but I didn’t realize he was a junior so he doesn’t require a draft pick until 2017.
December 4th, 2015 at 10:03 am
Wow! player development… i didnt know we did that in tampa. Good to hear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 4th, 2015 at 10:09 am
StPeteBucsFan
Great assessment- I’ve been bragging about Mark Dantonio & Pat Narduzzi, coached players for years. Most Big TEN schools, do a terrible job of recruiting out of state talent. Not Michigan State though. They’re constantly churning (outofstate) two start prospect into studs.
They’e players play tenacity, and heart. Products of an intense head coach, with simplified system- hell ‘bent winning at all cost. So I would be happy if grab one or two of their prospects.
I like the kid from Penn St too Carl Nassib & Anthony Zettel.
Outside that I’m weighting to see how everything plays out with a few potential cap casualties
(End)
Mario Williams (BUF, $19,000,000)
Chris Long (STL $12,500,000)
Charles Johnson (CAR, $15,020,000)
Cameron Wake (MIA, $9,800,000)
Elvis Dumerville (BALT $7,375,000)
(Tackle)
Kyle Williams (BUF, $8,000,000)
Should be great off season for the defense
December 4th, 2015 at 10:09 am
They’re constantly churning (outofstate) two **star prospects into studs.
December 4th, 2015 at 11:22 am
Can’t revise the stink out of Dom’s performance here
December 4th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Not many kids want to wear coats during the full school year.
December 4th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
True Joe
But – Still pretty amazing what Mark Dantonio, has done over the past couple of seasons.
Recruiting Class Rankings | (W/L) Record | Poll Ranking
• (2015) 22nd | Record: 11-1, .917 | Rank: 6th in Current AP Poll
• (2014) 25th | Record: 11-2, .846 | Rank: 5th in Final AP Poll
• (2013) 35th | Record: 13-1 | Rank: 3rd in Final AP Poll
• (2012) 33rd | Record: 7-6, .538
• (2011) 32nd | Record: 11-3, .786 | Rank: 11th in Final AP Poll
• (2012) 21st | Record: 11-2, .846 | Rank: 11th in Final AP Poll
December 4th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
*• (2010) 21st | Record: 11-2, .846 | Rank: 11th in Final AP Poll
December 4th, 2015 at 8:43 pm
At Michigan State Gholston played with darn good football team with Darqueze Dennard, Le’Veon Bell and Kirk Cousins. The Buccaneers have one year left on his rookie contract until they will need to pay up. The pre-training camp DE Camp Gholston attended this year is paying off however he still has not been able to get many sacks.
December 4th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
For a day, tomorrow Gholston and I will be on different teams. Wonder if him and Brandon Myers have a bet for tomorrows big game. Go Hawks!!!
December 5th, 2015 at 9:56 pm
I have been a Gholston supporter for a long time and glad his coaches see his great value to the Buc’s now. He had three sacs in a short time when Dumb Schiano finally let him play toward the end of his first year, so he is not bad at getting Sacs but has great value as a run stuffer and in putting pressure on the QB and holding the perimeter.