Louisville football: The 50 greatest Cardinals of all time

The former high school quarterback, receiver and safety would go on to become the anchor of the 2005 Orange Bowl-winning secondary. For other reasons, he’s also responsible for one of the biggest whoopsies in history of Louisville football, which still to this day has fans asking “What if?”

William Gay was touted as one of the nation’s premier defensive backs entering college and was rated a three-star prospect.

Through his early life, Gay faced domestic obstacles one by one, overcoming a youth flurried with violence and disarray. Raised by his grandmother when the smoke cleared, the 5-foot-10 multi-sport star raised eyebrows for his effectiveness in the open field, as well as his superior close-out speed.

He played 46 games for the Louisville football team, recording 134 tackles. In his final two seasons at Louisville, William left his footprint deep in the dirt. He made 21 tackles in the 2005 campaign, helping Louisville win its first BCS Bowl game ever.

While he may be remembered more for his offsides penalty against Rutgers that cost Louisville a chance at a national championship, what he did for Louisville should not go unnoticed. He was a dominant playmaking corner who forced offenses to think twice about throwing the ball against the Cards.

In 2006, he stalked ball carriers and frustrated opponent quarterbacks and receivers alike with 59 tackles and a jaw-dropping six interceptions. Gay rode that momentum into the NFL Draft, being selected in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a solid contributor for Pittsburgh during their Super Bowl XLIII-winning season in 2008.