Barry Gardner

Contemporary Era: 2004 Inductee

Gardner entered Northwestern virtually unknown as a walk-on offensive lineman. He left as one of the school's most prolific linebackers, finishing with 468 career tackles, second best in Northwestern history.

Gardner was dominant in Northwestern's 1995-96 back-to-back Big Ten titles, playing alongside Pat Fitzgerald in a linebacker corps second to none. But Gardner's senior season was his best. He finished with 175 tackles in 1998, best in the nation. For his efforts, Gardner was named first-team All-Big Ten for a second time.

Named a National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation, Gardner also was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, receiving an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. A second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, Gardner has NFL stints with the Eagles, Browns and Jets.