#9

Javae Gilmore

LB · Marshall · R-Jr. · #9

Returning to Marshall for 2026
R-Jr. · Amite, La.
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Javae Gilmore

LB · Marshall · Jr · #9

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#435 national
CFB
College
2 teams
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025

2 coaches
2024
Marshall
2025
Tony Gibson
Marshall
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Charles Huff → Tony Gibson. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Mississippi State2-10HC: Jeff Lebby · Run-leaning
2025Marshall5-7HC: Tony Gibson · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Marshall56189.51.52----
2024Mississippi State211.00.0------
Career581910.51.52----

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 7 · 2025

W 48–24

vs Old Dominion

5 TOT  ·  1 SOLO  ·  1 SACKS

Dominant 24-point win at home against Old Dominion.

How he plays

Play style

Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Marshall

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Linebacker · Marshall

Returning around him

  • 100% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: +5 net (27 in / 22 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Marshall · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #89 · 2026 recruiting class #121

DNA match

Player DNA

Thumper

Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.

LB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to C.J. Goetz’s 2023 season.

C.J. Goetz

73%match

Wisconsin · 2023

#2

Caden McDonald

San Diego State · 2021

All-Mountain West
68%
#3

Deshawn Holt

Toledo · 2024

66%
#4

Caden McDonald

San Diego State · 2022

All-Mountain West
64%
#5

Solomon Deshields

Pittsburgh · 2023

63%

Matches C.J. on

TFL rate
Solo tackle rate

Differs from C.J. on

Sack rate (lower)
Hurry rate (higher)
Height (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to AJ Vongphachanh's sophomore season at Utah State (2021).

Utah State · 2021

#2

Noah Taylor

Virginia · 2021

66%
#3

Eddy Toussom

UAB · 2025

66%
#4

Garrett Nelson

Nebraska · 2021

All-Big Ten
66%
#5

Caden McDonald

San Diego State · 2021

All-Mountain West
66%

Matches AJ on

TFL rate
Height
PD rate

Differs from AJ on

Hurry rate (higher)
Class year (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #8380

Final rank
#9585
Avg #9169.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #8380 this season.

Background

HERD FILE: Gilmore comes to Marshall from Mississippi State where he is joined by wide receiver Antonio Harmon, who was also with the Bulldogs. Gilmore appeared in 24 games over three seasons with Mississippi State. In 2024, he appeared in 11 games with zero starts and made his first career tackl...

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