ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

July 24, 2024

Ashton Gillotte

Louisville Cardinals

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Ashton.

Q. We all know how great Louisville's defense was last year. What would you say Mark Hagen and Ron English bring as head coaches for this defense?

ASHTON GILLOTTE: I think they're both tacticians. To me they broke down the sport in a way that I never looked at before. Ron English obviously has a lot of ways that he attacks different offenses and different looks that we can give them so we put ourselves in better positions. They're also really good at analyzing what we have. They'll take full advantage of the player so we can get more wins and more stops. I think that's kind of what they brought.

They brought, like, a higher form of football, higher thought process.

Q. We know that the theme for you is beware of the hair. How do you embody that on the field, in practice and games?

ASHTON GILLOTTE: I just try to play as tenaciously as I can. I try to be around the ball as much as I can, try to harass quarterbacks. Obviously my hair comes out of the back of the helmet, that's kind of where the hair come from.

I just try to give my best effort every play. Try to be around the ball, be disruptive, do what I can for my teammates.

Q. You had three offers from Florida schools. What was it about Louisville that spoke to you to draw you out of your home state?

ASHTON GILLOTTE: Obviously just the fan base and just being around a lot of good -- it's a good business hub, a nice city. Just being around a lot of the fans and just hearing the love and support that I got from them in the recruiting process made me want to take that leap and call Louisville home.

I think, especially since I've been here, they've continued to love and pour onto this team. I think it's present more than ever now.

Q. Your stats are amazing. Is there anything you haven't done on defense yet that you hope to accomplish this year?

ASHTON GILLOTTE: Talking about stats?

Q. Yes. Stats-wise or an accomplishment, personal accomplishment.

ASHTON GILLOTTE: I'd like to get a pick if I can. Obviously the team comes first. Just doing my job every time, that's the best I can do, so...

Q. Last year you were ACC All Academic team. You're also named nationally to the CSC Academic All-Americans. How do you balance the two, athletics and academics?

ASHTON GILLOTTE: Obviously football takes a lot of time. So does education. But just finding time to set aside to just study. We're in the building all the time. Whether it's like two hours here and there, like a quick little block of 30 minutes, just finding little bits of time to do school, just time management.

Q. You have some accolades last year for your play, pre-season accolades. How to you put that out of your mind and continue on the projection that you've been on the field lately?

ASHTON GILLOTTE: Obviously I try not to pay too much attention to social media, accolades, especially pre-season, 'cause what really matters is the end of the season, what are we doing that will get us there at the end of the season.

It's nice and all, but I've never been too big on awards like that. I just kind of stay off social media, stay off Twitter. Obviously people praise people, people are going to diss you. Removing yourself from those environments, finding the time to focus on what we're doing here, what's inside the building.