2025 Louisville Football Preview: Defensive Line

Part three of our Louisville football preview will cover the other side of the trenches, as we talk about the defensive line.

Below is our scheduled releases for other 2025 position breakdowns:

• Special teams (released July 21st: link)
• Offensive line (released July 28th: link)
• Secondary (released August 11th: link)
• Linebackers (released August 15th: link)
• Receiver group (WR / TE) (released August 18th: link)
• Running backs / fullbacks (released August 22nd: link)
• Quarterbacks (releasing August 25th)

Last Year’s Results

Louisville had 34 sacks as a team last year, matching their season total from 2023. Their 34 sacks last season was 32nd-best in the FBS, while their 87 tackles for loss placed them 27th (beating out 2023’s total by exactly one).

Ashton Gillotte wasn’t able to hit double digit sacks like in 2023, but his team-high 4.5 sacks and 11 TFLs helped earn him a spot on the All-ACC Second Team, finishing his Louisville career as a two-time All-ACC player. Gillotte was also one of three Louisville players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, going 66th overall in the third round to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tramel Logan and Jared Dawson were not far behind Gillotte as far as production, tying for second-best on the team with four sacks each. Dawson was also third-best on the team with 6.5 TFLs. Thor Griffith (three sacks, 5.5 TFLs), Dez Tell (1.5 sacks, 4.5 TFLs), and Jordan Guerad (2.5 sacks, 3.5 FLs) helped form a really deep rotation on the interior, one that helped Louisville rank 40th in FBS with 132.5 rushing yards per game allowed. Ramon Puryear also had a statistical anomaly in 2024, scoring three touchdowns on defense. Puryear also finishes his Louisville career with 67 career games played, the most of any Cardinal in program history.

Position Breakdown: Defensive Line

Louisville lost a lot of upperclassmen from last year’s group and replaced it with more upperclassmen from the portal (among other acquisitions). Gillotte is off to the NFL, and Myles Jernigan, Tramel Logan, Ramon Puryear, Dez Tell all exhausted their remaining eligibility. Jared Dawson and Mason Reiger, both whom could have been major contributors and even starting in 2025, left via the transfer portal, heading to Notre Dame and Wisconsin, respectively.

The Cardinals do retain veterans on the interior with Jordan Guerad and Rene Konga both returning in 2025, both also figuring to be starters. Guerad is a solid run-stopper and should be a cornerstone for Louisville’s rushing defense. He earned Lineman of the Game honors in the Sun Bowl (six tackles, two TFLs, sack), and is looking to parlay that into a solid 2025 campaign. Konga started in six games last season and had the most productive season of his career (20 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three TFLs).

Denzel Lowry should be a key rotational piece inside, and could even crack the starting lineup if needed. He arrives at Louisville after starting all 12 games for Old Dominion last season, racking up 51 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. Lowry earned All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention accolades in 2023 & 2024.

Jerry Lawson and Kendrick Gilbert also join Lowry as portal acquisitions, giving Louisville a rotation of potentially five or six guys for defensive tackle. Lawson was a First-Team All-United Athletic Conference player for Abilene Christian last season, while Gilbert transfers in from Kentucky. Gilbert has the athleticism to either play inside or outside, but will likely see more reps for now as a defensive tackle. Selah Brown could also have a key reserve role after missing all of 2024, he’s got the athleticism to potentially be a breakout player.

Moving to the end spots, Clev Lubin comes to Louisville after a very productive run at Coastal Carolina. Lubin was a First Team All-Sun Belt player last season, tallying 9.5 sacks, 12 TFLs, and three forced fumbles. Lubin has excellent burst off the snap and great closing speed on ball carriers, combined with a high motor. Lubin might be better as a hand-down defensive lineman in a 4-or-5 tech spot, but his burst off the line and acceleration makes him a great fit in stand-up pass rushing situations. If Lubin is able to meet expectations in 2025, that could be the X-factor in how good Louisville’s defense becomes.

The other edge spot will likely go to Rutgers transfer Wesley Bailey, but don’t be surprised if A.J. Green gets a lot of reps. Bailey only played in four games last season, but had a productive career at Rutgers, highlighted by a 2023 campaign where he had 27 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and four sacks. Bailey likely starts as a weak-side defensive end, whereas Green has the athleticism to either be a weak or strong-side end. Green played in all 13 games last season as a reserve and had three TFLs, he’s an athletic edge rusher with a 7’1″ wingspan at 6’6″. If he can reach his full potential, Louisville could potentially have a talented rotation at defensive end as well with him, Lubin, and Bailey primarily handling duties.

Louisville added another defensive lineman late with Justin Beadles arriving in the portal from New Mexico State. Beadles played in all 12 games last season and had four TFLs with 20 tackles for the Aggies. If there’s a freshman from the 2025 class to keep an eye on for the defense, it’s C.J. May. May was Louisville’s highest-rated recruit in the 2025 high school class (according to 247 Sports) and their only four-star recruit on the publication. May is an incredibly active edge rusher with good hand-fighting and solid pass rushing techniques. He’ll have time to fill out his frame, but he has the athleticism to be a future LEO or EDGE rusher in 4-2-5 or 3-4 sets, possibly even drop back in coverage in a pinch. May should be in the mix for first-team reps at either weak side defensive end or LEO when spring ball rolls around in 2026.

Projected Starters: Clev Lubin (EDGE), Jordan Guerad, Rene Konga, Wesley Bailey (WDE)

Key Reserves to Watch: Denzel Lowry, Jerry Lawson, Kendrick Gilbert, Justin Beadles, Selah Brown, A.J. Green, C.J. May