Louisville football: The 50 greatest Cardinals of all time

Coming in at No. 29 on our list is one of the more impressive human beings to ever suit up for the Cards.

Gary Barnidge is a player that has met every setback in his career with another push forward and improved his game year-over-year, no matter the circumstances.

As a Cardinal, Barnidge was a fantastic asset for Bobby Petrino and Steve Kragthorpe and as his college career progressed, so did his game. As a junior, he had 31 receptions for 511 yards and four touchdowns. During his senior year on a downtrodden 2007 squad, he had 53 receptions for 655 yards and seven touchdowns.

In total, Barnidge tallied 1,491 reception yards and was a reliable leader, regardless of circumstances and the way his career ended. He finished his career helping guide two teams that finished with their highest ranking in school history and helped the school win its first BCS bowl game.

After his college days were over, Barnidge was drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Though he wasn’t able to see much time in Carolina, just as he did in college, Barnidge made the most of a tough situation. When he signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2013, his career began to take off.

Barnidge’s 2015 NFL season led to him earning a Pro Bowl bid after he recorded 1,043 yards and 9 touchdowns. That season, he was honored with the Browns’ Walter Payton Man of the Year award because of his leadership on and off the field.

Since 2011, Barnidge has headed up a non-profit called American Football Without Barriers, which puts together football camps in the United States and around the world for disadvantaged youth to promote physical fitness and overall wellbeing.