7 Best Louisville Cardinals Football Players

The Louisville Cardinals have won eight conference titles since the program started in 1912.  

Today, you can participate in online sports betting on the Cardinals’ college football odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook. 

Before doing any football betting, check out my list of the top Cardinals of all time. 

7 Best Louisville Cardinals Football Players

1. Lamar Jackson

Jackson played at Louisville from 2015 to 2017. He threw for 9,043 yards (fifth), 69 passing touchdowns (sixth), 4,132 rushing yards (first), 50 rushing touchdowns (first), 13,175 total yards (first), and 119 total touchdowns (second).

Jackson holds the top two single-season records in rushing yards, including 1,601 in 2017. 

In 2016, he won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, AP College Football Player of the Year, SN Player of the Year, and was a unanimous All-American. 

Additionally, he was the ACC Athlete of the Year, two-time ACC Player of the Year, two-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and two-time first-team All-ACC.

The Cardinals put him in their Ring of Honor, and his No. 8 was retired. 

2. Teddy Bridgewater

Playing at Louisville for three seasons from 2011 to 2013, Bridgewater threw for 9,817 yards (third), 72 touchdowns (third), 9,987 total yards (fifth), and 78 total touchdowns (sixth).

He also holds the single-season record for passing touchdowns with 31 in 2013. 

While at Louisville, Bridgewater was first-team All-Big East, second-team All-AAC, Big East Offensive Player of the Year, and Big East Rookie of the Year. 

3. Elvis Dumervil

Dumervil won numerous accolades while at Louisville from 2002 to 2005. The list includes the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Ted Hendricks Award, Bill Willis Trophy, Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and a unanimous All-American. 

Over his career, he had 32 sacks, second in program history. He holds the single-season record in sacks with 20 in 2005 and the single-game record with six in 2005 against Kentucky. 

4. Chris Redman

Redman played four seasons at Louisville from 1996 to 1999 and passed for 12,541 yards and 84 touchdowns, which are program records. 

He also holds the passing yards single-season record with 4,042 in 1998. 

Additionally, he holds some single-game records, including 592 passing yards and six passing touchdowns in 1998 (tied with Jackson).

Redman won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, was the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, and is in the Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor. 

5.  Brian Brohm

Another Louisville signal-caller, Brohm, played from 2004 to 2007 and was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year, Conference USA Freshman of the Year, and Orange Bowl MVP.

Brohm didn’t start a single game in 2004. 

He threw for 10,819 yards (fourth) and 80 touchdowns (fifth).

6. Harry Douglas

While Douglas played at Louisville from 2004 to 2007, he caught just 32 passes over the first two years. He then added 141 in 2006 and 2007. 

He finished with at least 70 catches and 1,159 yards in 2006 and 2007. 

He caught 173 passes (sixth) for 2,924 yards (second) when his career was over. He had 223 yards in 2007 against Kentucky, which remains a Louisville record. 

He was a second-team All-American and two-time All-Big East. 

7.  Otis Wilson

Wilson played linebacker at Louisville from 1977 to 1979, where he racked up 484 tackles (third). He also holds two top-eight single-season tackle records: 175 in 1977 (third) and 157 in 1978 (eighth). 

He was a second-team All-American and is in the Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor. 

On top of his tackle numbers, he intercepted 10 passes.