Louisville football: The incredible story of Reggie Bonnafon continues

After a big preseason, former Louisville football star Reggie Bonnafon has officially made the final roster for the Carolina Panthers.

Just two days away from the Louisville football season opener, one former Cardinal who was a huge part of the victory over the Cardinals Labor Day opponent the last time the two met, has made some news of his own – it’s news that not many people ever thought they’d hear.

Former Louisville football quarterback turned receiver, turned running back, has pulled off another big upset, this time in the NFL. After spending last season on the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers, Reggie Bonnafon went into training camp and the 2019 NFL preseason looking to prove that he belonged.

Four games and 13 receptions, 139 yards, 11 carries and 51 yards later, Reggie Bonnafon has earned a spot on the final 53 man roster of Carolina Panthers.

Not only did Bonnafon make the roster, but he did so earning the backup running back spot behind one of the brightest young running backs in the NFL, Christian McCaffrey.

There was never a question that Reggie Bonnafon had the talent to one day play in the NFL. Coming out of Trinity High School in 2013, the Louisville product was quickly becoming one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks and a target for some of the biggest programs across the country.

He decided to stay in Louisville to play for the Cards and new head coach Bobby Petrino, who had just taken over for Charlie Strong. The rest of his career would be a roller coaster unlike anything we had seen in a long time.

Just weeks into the start of his freshman season, Bonnafon lost his father suddenly. Gone was Bonnafon’s best friend and the guy who had always envisioned playing in front of at Cardinal Stadium in the red and black.

Only a few days later, Bonnafon would become the starting quarterback for Louisville as a true freshman after an injury to Will Gardner. Within weeks of losing his father, Bonnfon was blossoming into a college star.

Bonnafon fought through, honoring his dad every step of the way. He helped guide Louisville to a 9-4 season, including an incredible victory over Notre Dame on the road in South Bend, and looked firmly in the place to be the program’s quarterback of the future.

That, unfortunately, didn’t last long.

The following season, Bonnafon would start against Auburn in the season opener, but was eventually pulled in favor of rising freshmen Lamar Jackson. He’d play here and there as a sophomore, but it became clearer by the day that Bonnafon was no longer the future at quarterback.

The following summer, Bonnafon would move to wide receiver, a position that seemed to fit him naturally. He was a stud athlete who displayed great athleticism and the ability to make plays with his legs, regardless of what position he lined up as.

Bonnafon caught 13 passes for 159 yards in his one season as a wide receiver, never really looked truly comfortable at the position and oftentimes overlooked by Jackson due to the presence of other dynamic weapons in Jaylen Smith and Cole Hikutini.

New season. New position.

In his final season as a Cardinal, Bonnafon was once again moved by Bobby Petrino, this time to running back – a position where Louisville desperately needed help.

Once again, Bonnafon never got his footing at the position and struggled to become the big-play threat that Louisville needed, but did show flashes of being able to grow into the position as the season went on. He became apart of a rotation that featured Malik Williams, Trey Smith, and Dae Williams and finished his final season with 93 carries for 459 yards and seven touchdowns.

Grow into the position he did.

While his career at Louisville was nowhere near close to failure, it was one that didn’t quite play out the way we envisioned as he led the Cardinals to a victory of Notre Dame. The coaching staff was inadequate in figuring out how to use his as a weapon, and it showed.

Bonnafon never got the chance to become who could truly be at Louisville, and it looked like it could hamper any chance of an NFL career.

Last spring when Bonnafon signed with the Panthers, it was a good feeling but by no means did there look like a future for him on the roster.

After signing with the practice squad, Bonnafon lasted the entirety of the season, never being released or signed by another team. He got the full summer in Carolina to get the coaching and developing he needed to become a reliable target in the NFL and use the skills that we all saw he had. It paid off.

Even with the deck stacked against him with five running backs in camp alongside of him, Bonnafon shined. In his second preseason he led the Panthers in receiving yards, making multiple highlights plays along the way, and now could be looking at a serious role in the offense alongside McCaffrey and Cam Newton.

For Louisville fans the news of Bonnafon making the roster is almost as big as winning against Notre Dame on Monday.

Bonnafon was a local kid who suffered the most tragic event of his life just weeks into his career at Louisville. He went on to shine, playing at his best regardless of his circumstance, doing everything the coaching staff asked of him.

An NFL career seemed unlikely, but here we are. It’s official, Reggie Bonnafon is a Carolina Panther.

Bonnafon spoke about his the loss of his father to ESPN back in 2015, saying

"“I was blessed to have him as my dad.  And I’m just trying to be even half the man he was.”"

Job well done, Reggie.

Despite the ineptitude of Bobby Petrino, who spent four years derailing the career of a potential star, Bonnafon’s incredible story of sacrifice, hard work, dedication to his craft, and perseverance will continue onward to the NFL.