William Gholston is a career quality starter β a pass rusher whose body of work places Gholston in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Gholston's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.
William Gholston
Height6'6"
Weight281 lb
BornJul 31, 1991
Age34
ConferenceBig Ten
Rookie yr2013
Draft2013 Β· Rd 4, Pick 126 Β· TB
A edge rusher with a above-average career β the kind of consistent contributor every roster needs. Solid availability (exceptional availability β almost never missed time) added to their value.
Career Value Β· VORP
VORP 74 Β· #1554 Β· Above AverageWorth 74 points of value above a freely-available replacement interior lineman β top 34% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 9 of 12 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +8.2 on average.See board β
Seasons above replacement
9 cleared
3 replaced
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it β adds 0, never a debit
47
Replacement
the KC-H bar
β
9
Seasons over
cleared the bar
Γ
+8.2
Avg surplus
peak +17
9 seasons Γ ~8.2 surplus β VORP 74
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at onceβno tab hopping.
3 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Defense | Snap Counts | Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% | |||||
| 2013 | β | TB | 11 | β | 29 | 13 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 312 | 39.4% | 24 | 9.2% | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2014 | β | TB | 13 | β | 39 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 2.0 | 17.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 570 | 54.9% | 74 | 18.9% | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2015 | β | TB | 15 | β | 62 | 42 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 3.0 | 19.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 671 | 61.8% | 82 | 19.4% | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2016 | β | TB | 13 | β | 42 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 3.0 | 19.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 585 | 63.4% | 71 | 18.1% | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2017 | β | TB | 13 | β | 32 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 447 | 48.4% | 75 | 20.1% | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 2018 | β | TB | 11 | β | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1.0 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 402 | 37.9% | 88 | 19.4% | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | β | TB | 15 | β | 38 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 1.0 | 13.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.5% | 493 | 43.8% | 172 | 34.7% | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 118.7 | 0.0 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0.1 |
| 2020 | β | TB | 16 | β | 41 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 20 | 3.0 | 31.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 606 | 56.8% | 120 | 26.1% | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 95.8 | 7.0 | 29 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | β | TB | 15 | β | 33 | 18 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 4.5 | 22.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 507 | 44.4% | 78 | 16.1% | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 108.3 | -1.7 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0.1 |
| 2022 | β | TB | 16 | β | 46 | 21 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 485 | 43.1% | 113 | 24.2% | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 95.8 | -1.0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | β | TB | 12 | β | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 244 | 23.8% | 75 | 18.6% | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.1 |
| 2024 | β | TB | 8 | β | 12 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | β | 0.0% | 202 | 17.7% | 105 | 21.6% | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Career | β | 158 | β | 401 | 234 | 167 | 59 | 81 | 20.5 | 160.5 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.5% | 5,524 | 44.6% | 1,077 | 20.5% | 7 | 6 | β | β | β | 74 | 19 | 42 | 9 | 8 | β | |
Defense
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 22 | TB | 11 | 0* | 29 | 13 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 6.2 |
| 2014 | 23 | TB | 13 | 8* | 39 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 2.0 | 17.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2015 | 24 | TB | 15 | 10* | 62 | 42 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 3.0 | 19.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | β | 0 | 0 | 11.5 |
| 2016 | 25 | TB | 13 | 9* | 42 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 3.0 | 19.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10.5 |
| 2017 | 26 | TB | 13 | 0* | 32 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 5.4 |
| 2018 | 27 | TB | 11 | 0* | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1.0 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 4.7 |
| 2019 | 28 | TB | 15 | 0* | 38 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 1.0 | 13.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 7.8 |
| 2020 | 29 | TB | 16 | 9* | 41 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 20 | 3.0 | 31.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 2021 | 30 | TB | 15 | 0* | 33 | 18 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 4.5 | 22.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 10.6 |
| 2022 | 31 | TB | 16 | 0* | 46 | 21 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7.1 |
| 2023 | 32 | TB | 12 | 0* | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 3.6 |
| 2024 | 33 | TB | 8 | 0* | 12 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 3.7 |
| Career | 158 | 36* | 401 | 234 | 167 | 59 | 81 | β | β | 1 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 93.1 |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Snap Counts
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 22 | TB | 12 | 0* | β | 0.0% | 312 | 39.4% | 24 | 9.2% |
| 2014 | 23 | TB | 15 | 8* | β | 0.0% | 570 | 54.9% | 74 | 18.9% |
| 2015 | 24 | TB | 16 | 10* | β | 0.0% | 671 | 61.8% | 82 | 19.4% |
| 2016 | 25 | TB | 14 | 9* | β | 0.0% | 585 | 63.4% | 71 | 18.1% |
| 2017 | 26 | TB | 14 | 0* | β | 0.0% | 447 | 48.4% | 75 | 20.1% |
| 2018 | 27 | TB | 16 | 0* | β | 0.0% | 402 | 37.9% | 88 | 19.4% |
| 2019 | 28 | TB | 16 | 0* | 2 | 1.5% | 493 | 43.8% | 172 | 34.7% |
| 2020 | 29 | TB | 16 | 9* | β | 0.0% | 606 | 56.8% | 120 | 26.1% |
| 2021 | 30 | TB | 17 | 0* | β | 0.0% | 507 | 44.4% | 78 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 31 | TB | 17 | 0* | β | 0.0% | 485 | 43.1% | 113 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 32 | TB | 16 | 0* | β | 0.0% | 244 | 23.8% | 75 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 33 | TB | 17 | 0* | β | 0.0% | 202 | 17.7% | 105 | 21.6% |
| Career | 186 | 36* | 2 | β | 5,524 | β | 1,077 | β |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 27 | TB | 16 | 0* | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | 28 | TB | 16 | 0* | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 118.7 | 0.0 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0.1 |
| 2020 | 29 | TB | 16 | 9* | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 95.8 | 7.0 | 29 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 30 | TB | 17 | 0* | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 108.3 | -1.7 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0.1 |
| 2022 | 31 | TB | 17 | 0* | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 95.8 | -1.0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | 32 | TB | 16 | 0* | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.1 |
| 2024 | 33 | TB | 17 | 0* | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Career | 115 | 9* | 7 | 6 | β | β | β | 74 | 19 | 42 | 9 | 8 | β |
* GS not available from free sources β SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 58 Β· Strong StarterA strong starter career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 58 of 100, era-normalized against sacks/g peers across 12 scored seasons.
53
Sustained
career value
Γ.6
61
Peak
best 3 seasons
Γ.4
Γ1
Longevity
career length
Blend 56.2 Γ longevity 1 = KV-H 58Β· confidence 100%
What builds the career mark of 53
On-field 36.5
Availability 16.5
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative sacks/g)
2013bestavg 532024
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position9
Depth
of 100
Reached 10% of the all-time Sacks leader β a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
10% of the all-time Sacks leader10
0 categories β₯25% of the all-time leader0
A 0β100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data β career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence β so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite β₯ 85 Β· Strong β₯ 65 Β· Solid β₯ 45 Β· Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 88%.
Per-Snap Impact
Interior D-Line Β· proprietary Β· 2012+62
Above average
SIS
Disruption/1003.213Snap share44.6%Def snaps5,524ReliableCV 0.41
Production per snap β the box score normalized by opportunity. SIS is z-scored within interior d-line, shrinkage-regularized so small samples don't spike, over the NFL snap-count era (2012+).
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average Β· KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average defensive linemen aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
Combine Β· 2013
Percentiles compare each raw measurement against position peers, the full combine pool, and the same draft class where enough samples exist.
4.96s
40-Yard
Strong Β· 75th pct
Pos 75thAll 23thClass Pos 93thClass All 26th
28.5"
Vertical
Below avg Β· 38th pct
Pos 38thAll 13thClass Pos 68thClass All 16th
110"
Broad Jump
Above avg Β· 73th pct
Pos 73thAll 25thClass Pos 89thClass All 24th
23 reps
Bench
Low Β· 21th pct
Pos 21thAll 63thClass Pos 17thClass All 65th
7.20s
3-Cone
Elite Β· 95th pct
Pos 95thAll 45thClass Pos 96thClass All 39th
4.59s
Shuttle
Above avg Β· 61th pct
Pos 61thAll 20thClass Pos 88thClass All 25th
Postseason Career
8 playoff gamesDefense
Tkl8Solo6Ast2TFL1QBHits4Dis5.0
College stats are not imported for this profile yet.
StatVault has the verified college attribution (Michigan State), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters β every name is linked.
Top Teammates
Lavonte DavidOLB12yMike EvansWR11yCameron BrateTE9yDonovan SmithOT8yChris Godwin Jr.WR8yVita VeaDT7yAli MarpetG7yDemar DotsonOT7yGerald McCoyDT6yShaquil BarrettLB6yAnthony NelsonLB6yCarlton Davis IIICB6yJamel DeanCB6yPat O'ConnorDE6yZach TrinerLS6yRyan SmithCB6yRakeem Nunez-RochesDT5yLuke StockerTE5yJameis WinstonQB5yJordan WhiteheadFS5yRyan JensenC5yDevin WhiteLB5yDoug MartinRB5yTristan WirfsOT5y
2013 Draft ClassΒ· this player went #126
#117Khaseem GreeneLB#118Sean PorterOLB#119Phillip ThomasDB#120Gerald HodgesLB#121Khaled HolmesC#122JC TretterC#124Trevardo WilliamsOLB#125Johnathan FranklinRB#127Malliciah GoodmanDE#128Quinton PattonWR#130Kyle JuszczykFB#132Devin TaylorDE#133Levine ToiloloTE#134Sanders CommingsCB#135Denard RobinsonRB#136Earl WolffDB
Franchise Succession
the room, before and afterWilliam inherited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers DL room from Akeem Spence (2013β2016), and handed it to Jacquies Smith (2014β2016).
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0β100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 2024final season
Last recorded season with TB
- 2013draft
Drafted by TB β Round 4, Pick 126
Athletic & Unique Profile
verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts6'6" / 281 lb
Frame
281 lb at 4.96s
Size-speed
28.5" vert / 110" broad
Explosion
23 reps
Bench power
Injury History
6 career games missed (Out)From nflverse weekly injury reports Β· coverage begins 2009.
| Season | Team | Games Out | Designations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | TB | 0 | W3QuestionableΒ· KneeW18QuestionableΒ· Knee |
| 2023 | TB | 1 | W15OutΒ· Knee / AnkleW16QuestionableΒ· Knee / Ankle |
| 2021 | TB | 0 | W14QuestionableΒ· Wrist / Knee |
| 2017 | TB | 2 | W10OutΒ· NeckW11OutΒ· NeckW12QuestionableΒ· Neck |
| 2016 | TB | 2 | W9QuestionableΒ· BicepsW16OutΒ· ElbowW17OutΒ· Elbow |
| 2015 | TB | 0 | W9QuestionableΒ· Knee |
| 2014 | TB | 1 | W1OutΒ· ShoulderW2QuestionableΒ· Shoulder |
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works β
Historical Knox Β· KV-H
Era-normalized career quality β z-scored against 12-season peers. See all β
58
peak 61
Season Report CardsΒ· KV-H era-normalized per season
C+2013
C+2014
C+2015
C+2016
C2017
C2018
C+2019
B2020
B2021
C2022
C2023
C2024
Availability
Era Translator
Sacks translated to the 2025NFL β each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Sacks | Sacks/G | β 2025 Sacks | β 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 | 0.2 | 3+1 | 0.2 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0.2 | 3+1 | 0.2 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0.2 | 3 | 0.2 |
| 2016 | 3 | 0.2 | 4+1 | 0.2 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0.1 | 2+1 | 0.1 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.1 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0.2 | 3 | 0.2 |
| 2021 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 5+0.5 | 0.3 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0.1 | 2+1 | 0.1 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:snap_counts, nflverse:combine, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:injuries Β· multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle Β· updated 6/18/2026
Career Value Β· VORP
74 career value over replacement β #1554 all-time of 4,642. 6.2/season above a replacement-level DL.
Draft OutcomeSteal β
Pick #126 (Rd 4) Β· TB Β· 2013 Β· +24.5 vs expected KV-H
58actual
33.5 expected Β· Ξ+24.5
Fan Rating
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