Selected in the fourth round (126th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
Has played in 103 career games, including 56 starts, totaling 272 tackles, including 39 for loss, 12.0 sacks, 10 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and four blocked kicks.
Registered first career forced fumble in win at Philadelphia (11/22/15).
Recorded first career partial sack on Monday Night Football against Miami (11/11/13).
Made first career start at St. Louis (12/22/13).
Made NFL debut at New England (9/22/13).
Registered first career blocked field goal vs. Baltimore (10/12/14).
Blocked extra point at New Orleans (9/20/15).
Posted first career multi-sack game with two in win vs. Atlanta (12/6).
Played in all 16 games, with eight starts, recording 38 tackles, including five for loss, 1.0 sacks, and two passes defensed.
Key component of NFL's top-ranked rush defense.
Started season opener vs. San Francisco (9/8) and recorded four tackles.
Collected a career-high 12 tackles in Thursday Night Football win at Carolina (9/12), including a game-clinching stop of Christian McCaffrey on 4th-and-1 from the Tampa Bay two-yard line with 1:22 remaining.
Logged two tackles and two quarterback hits vs. New York Giants (9/22).
Notched first sack of the season in win at Los Angeles Rams (9/29).
Collected three tackles at New Orleans (10/6).
Recorded two tackles vs. Carolina (10/13).
Posted two tackles at Tennessee (10/27).
Notched season-high four tackles at Seattle (11/3).
Played in a reserve role in win vs. Arizona (11/10) and recorded one tackle.
Registered two tackles vs. New Orleans (11/17).
Tallied two tackles in win at Atlanta (11/24).
Collected three tackles, including one for loss, in win at Jacksonville (12/1).
Played in his 100th career game in win vs. Indianapolis (12/8).
Playing in his hometown of Detroit (12/15), recorded three tackles, including two for loss.
Recorded two tackles vs. Houston (12/21).
Collected four tackles, one pass defensed and two quarterback hits vs. Atlanta (12/29).
Started 24-of-36 games he played at Michigan State (2010-12), totaling 142 tackles, 13 passes defensed, 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 30.0 tackles for loss.
Entered the NFL Draft after his junior season
Finished his Michigan State career ranked 10th in school history in tackles for loss (30.0).
Recorded 10 passes defensed in 2012, the most by a defensive lineman in Spartans history and the most amongst FBS defensive linemen.
Two-time winner of the Danziger Award for defense (most outstanding Detroit-area player).
Led the Spartans in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (13.0) as a junior.
Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media, while earning honorable mention from the league's coaches in 2012. Earned second-team All-Big Ten Honors from Phil Steele.
Named a quarterfinalist for the Lombardi Award (college lineman of the year) in 2012.
Chosen as Defensive Player of the Game in the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
Tallied 16.0 tackles for loss as a sophomore, tied for the seventh-most in Michigan State single-season history.
Recorded 5.0 tackles for loss in the 2012 Outback Bowl, the third-most in Michigan State history and the most ever in a bowl game, earning a spot on the ESPN.com and Yahoo! Sports All-Bowl teams.
Named All-Big Ten second team by coaches and media, while also being selected for the second-team All-Big Ten by Yahoo! Sports as a sophomore.
Selected to the CollegeFootballNews.com's second-team All-Sophomore team in 2011.
Led the team in tackles for loss (16.0), the seventh-most in Michigan State history.
Majored in human development and family studies.
Attended Southeastern High School (Detroit, Michigan).
Chosen as an All-American by EA Sports, MaxPreps, SuperPrep and PrepStar (Dream Team).
Ranked as a Top 60 recruit by Tom Lemming (No. 12), Rivals.com (No. 21), Lindy's (No. 21), Athlon Sports (No. 24), Scout.com (No. 29), ESPNU (No. 42) and Sporting News (No. 60).
Ranked as one of the top defensive ends in the country by Tom Lemming (No. 3), Rivals.com (No. 3, strongside), Scouts, Inc. (No. 3), Scout.com (No. 4), Lindy's (No. 5) and Athlon Sports (No. 5).
Rated as the top player in the state of Michigan by the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Rivals.com, Scout.com and Lansing State Journal.
Recorded 115 tackles as a senior, including 44.0 for loss, 27.0 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, two blocked punts and an interception returned for a touchdown.
Led the Public School League in tackles (101) and sacks (15.0) as a junior, while also tallying 37.0 tackles for loss.
Transferred from Mumford High School (Detroit, Michigan) following his sophomore season.
During his two seasons at Mumford, Gholston played both ways, recording 183 tackles, 28.0 sacks and two interceptions to go along with 55 catches for 970 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Cousin Vernon Gholston was a first-round selection of the New York Jets in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Born William Gholston on July 31, 1991, in Detroit, Michigan.
Gholston, along with the defensive lineman hosted the 8th annual "D-Line Delivers Christmas". Local families were surprised with a tour of AdventHealth Training Center, dinner with D-Line, and a shopping spree at Target.
In December 2017, partnered with United Healthcare to build a playground along the historic Clarence Fort Freedom Trail in Tampa.
Served as an honorary starter with his mother, Dawn Ward, a breast cancer survivor at the Buccaneers annual Treasure Chest 5K, 10K, Fun Run & Corporate Challenge in October 2017.
In November 2015, helped deliver canned goods and toys to Metropolitan Ministries for the annual Raymond James "Sack Hunger Stack Toys" program.
Along with the defensive line, purchased toys and hosted a surprise shopping spree for underprivileged families in the "D-Line Does Christmas" event in December 2013-17.
Helped hand out candy to trick-or-treaters from Buccaneers Academy schools attending Lowry Park Zoo's ZooBoo KIDS Halloween event in October 2015.
Paired up with United Way volunteers and students to install a "Learning Garden" at Davis Elementary in September 2015.
Had his head shaved by children battling cancer for the Buccaneers Cut for a Cure in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to raise funds and awareness for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
In October 2014, visited Metropolitan Ministries to play games with children for the Ministries' annual Fall Festival.
In September 2014, participated in a Buccaneers Academy ribbon-cutting ceremony and helped build an outdoor class at Sheehy Elementary in Tampa.
In September 2014, interacted with military members stationed overseas through a Pro vs. GI Joe event at the Buccaneers-sponsored USO Welcome Center at Tampa International Airport.
In February 2014 presented students at Pizzo Elementary with $2,000-worth of PE equipment for winning the Buccaneers PLAY 60 Challenge.
As part of the 2013 Buccaneers Rookie Club, took part in a variety of community service events, including: visiting patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa; hosting an ice cream social for military veterans at James Haley VA Hospital; participating in a team-building scavenger hunt with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa at Busch Gardens; hosting a bowling outing with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tampa Bay; challenging youths from the Central City YMCA in games at a local arcade; visiting local servicemen and servicewomen at MacDill Air Force Base; hosting a "Salute to Service" Barbecue with USAA at U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg; greeting veterans at Bay Pines VA Hospital; visiting young patients over the holidays at All Children's Hospital; and singing Christmas carols to residents at Westminster Palms Retirement Home.
