How 21 players decisions altered the course of Louisville football forever

Louisville football celebrates the careers of 21 seniors that positively altered the course of the program forever.

In 2015 when Lamar Jackson arrived on campus for Louisville football, he was joined by one of the best-performing classes in school history.

In 2019, only four of the players from that class remain, but each of those former teammates profoundly impacted the program forever. Along the way, 17 others joined what would eventually become this year’s senior class. But those core four- GG Robinson, Amonte Caban, DeVante Peete, and Emonee Spence– helped build and maintain the culture across five seasons that saw dozens of different coaches as well as some of the highest highs and lowest lows in program history.

Much of the same can be said of Seth Dawkins, Tyler Haycraft, Mason King, Blanton Creque, Khane Pass, Ronald Rudd, and Damien Smith. Those players joined the Cards for perhaps its best season in school history. In the 2016 class’ third career games, the Cards upset No. 2 Florida State and went down to the last play in a historic game against Clemson in Death Valley.

Louisville will also graduate some players who joined the team in the middle of their careers. Gary McCrae feels like he has been with the program for a decade, Jordan Davis, Quen Head and Boosie Whitlow earned some serious action in 2019, and PJ Mbanasor has been an on-and-off starter who was a consistent leader in the secondary.

The Cards also lose some instant-impact graduate transfers. Ty Tyler, TJ Holl, TJ McCoy, Ean Pfeifer, and Thomas Jackson only spent one year in Louisville, but each players’ commitment to leadership and knowing his role has played a part in a solid 2019 season.

Like the last five seasons, Louisville’s 2019 graduating class is all over the place; In terms of playing time, overall impact, and time spent as a Cardinal. But one thing is certain: every single player made his impact felt during his time in red and black.

Louisville graduates possibly its most eclectic class in years, but it’s a perfect representation of their time spent as a Cardinal. There were some serious valleys, but also some pretty exhilarating peaks. There were seasons decimated by injuries, and there were winning moments topped off by a game-sealing catch, tackle, or kick.

Every single player in the 2019 class gave his all for his school, his team, and the brotherhood they formed together. Regardless of the outcome on the field, the moments they shared and the history that they made can never be taken away from them.

As Cardinals supporters, boosters, friends, fellow classmates, or otherwise, Louisville football’s onlookers over the last five years have felt every emotion possible: pain, pleasure, sadness, joy, genuine anger and frustration, as well as pure jubilation and triumph.

But this week, as we honor our senior class, we most importantly feel pride.

We know that no matter what this program has been through, this senior class has felt those emotions on the deepest levels. They put their bodies on the line for their program, sacrificed personal lives for the good of the team and program, and truly represented what the University of Louisville is all about.

In a city that has built its reputation on the backs of blue-collar workers, Louisvillians know resilience. For a group that had the worst season in program history, it’s only right that these Cardinals got back up off the mat, resilient as ever.

In poetic fashion, this year’s seniors are finishing off the season the right way- a testament to who they’ve become as men in a city that prides itself not on how it starts, but how it finishes.

To the senior class, there are more incredible stories that can be told about your years as a Cardinal than I have words to type or you have time to read. From this Cardinal to alumnus and thousands around the world, thank you for your contributions.

Go Cards!