Top Five Tight Ends in Louisville Football History
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville football program has seen plenty of talented players don the Cardinals uniform over the years, ranging from multi-time All-Conference selections to All-Americans and a Heisman Trophy winner.
This offseason, Louisville Report is taking on the task of ranking the top five players in the history of the program at each position on the field. Next in this series, we take at look at the tight end spot.
No. 5: Jim Zamberlan
Years at UofL: 1965-67
UofL Career Stats: 128 receptions for 1,646 yards (12.86 average) and 11 touchdowns, four rushes for 10 yards (2.5 average) and no touchdowns.
Summary: Despite playing only three years in an era of football where tight ends weren't utilized like they are now, that was enough for Zamberlan to re-write the Louisville record book. When his collegiate career ended, he was the school record holder for receptions, yards and touchdown catches by a tight end (now third, third and fifth, respectively), with these marks standing for nearly 30 years. He led Louisville in receptions and yards during his final two years, with his best season coming in 1966, catching 59 passes for 747 yards and four scores.
No. 4: Gary Barnidge
Years at UofL: 2004-07
UofL Career Stats: 108 receptions for 1,491 yards (13.81 average) and 17 touchdowns.
Summary: Following a pair of seasons spent mostly as a reserve, Barnidge had a two-year run where he was one of Louisville's most underrated offensive weapons during the mid-2000's. His breakout year came as a junior in 2006, when he caught 31 passes for 511 yards and four touchdowns, all of which were third on the team. His best season came in 2007 as a senior, snagging 53 receptions for 655 yards and seven scores. Not only were all three marks second to Harry Douglas on the team, but they all led the Big East amongst tight ends, and he took home First-Team All-Big East honors. Barnidge is currently sixth, fifth and third in receptions, yards and touchdowns, respectively, by a tight end in school history.
No. 3: Marshon Ford
Years at UofL: 2017-22
UofL Career Stats: 127 receptions for 1,585 yards (12.48 average) and 18 touchdowns.
Summary: Joining the Cardinals as a walk-on, Ford finished his collegiate career as perhaps the most under-appreciated (and under-utilized) tight end on this list. Amongst tight ends, the Louisville Ballard HS product ranks second in touchdown receptions, and fourth in overall receptions and receiving yards. He led the ACC in receiving touchdowns by a tight end in 2019 with seven, then was the runner-up in 2020 with six. His best season came in 2021, setting career marks in receptions and yards with 49 for 550, as well as two scores to earn Third-Team All-ACC honors. He was a conference honorable mention in 2022 with 33 catches for 434 yards and three TDs.
No. 2: Jamie Asher
Years at UofL: 1991-94
UofL Career Stats: 147 receptions for 1,704 yards (11.59 average) and 5 touchdowns, 13 rushes for 26 yards (2.0 average) and no touchdowns.
Summary: Like Barnidge, Asher spent the first two seasons of his career buried on the depth chart. But when he got the opportunity to start, he took it and ran with it. He lead the Cardinals in receptions and receiving yards for two straight seasons, starting as a junior in 1993 when he logged 52 receptions for 658 yards and three touchdowns. His 1994 season was one of the best by a tight end in Louisville history, catching 70 passes for 794 yards and a touchdown to earn First-Team All American honors by Football News and the United Press. The receptions mark in '94 is the single-season school record by a tight end, while the yardage is second. Overall, he's second in career receptions and yards at Louisville for a tight end, behind the player at No. 1
No. 1: Ibn Green
Years at UofL: 1996-99
UofL Career Stats: 217 receptions for 2,830 yards (13.04 average) and 33 touchdowns.
Summary: Not only is Green by far and away the best tight end to ever play at Louisville, he has a legitimate case/resume to be in the mix for their best pass-catcher ever. The Louisville Male High product is tied with WR DeVante Parker for the most receiving touchdowns in school history, is second behind WR Arnold Jackson in overall receptions, third behind Jackson and WR Harry Douglas in receiving yards, and is a two-time All-American and three-time First-Team All-Conference-USA selection. His best season came in 1998 when he earned Second-Team All-American honors, logging 55 receptions for a career-best 884 yards and 12 touchdowns, the latter of which is tied for most in a single season at Louisville. He was tabbed a a First-Team AFCA All-American in 1999 as a senior, catching a career-best 60 passes for 680 yards and eight scores.
Other Louisville Position Top Fives:
- Quarterback
- Running Back
- Wide Receiver
- Offensive Line
- Interior Defensive Line (coming soon)
- Defensive End (coming soon)
- Linebacker (coming soon)
- Cornerback (coming soon)
- Safety (coming soon)
(Photo of Ibn Green via FanSided - Big Red Louie)
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