Texas State linebacker, Brian Guendling, has walked through life in shoes that most people haven't had to walk in, and until earlier this week, his Texas State football teammates and coaches didn't know his story.

Guendling was born in Poway, California, with a mental handicap that prevented him from speaking until the age of four, and later caused him to have difficulties with his grammar and short-term memory. Doctors recommended that his parents hold him back in school and enroll him in special education classes. Despite the frustration of his learning disabilities, Guendling has developed a strong desire to contribute to the enrichment of the experiences of other handicapped people.

Last month, on June 19, Guendling made a noteworthy performance at Nephews bar in San Marcos, Texas, performing "Uptown Funk" by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson, alongside a few of his teammates, completely in sign language. The performance was enjoyed by both the hearing and hearing-impaired.

“[People with] special needs are very important, and they’re no different than we are,” Guendling told Yahoo Sports. “They should be able to enjoy everything that the hearing can, which is why I’m here in this world to bring music and concerts to the deaf and hard of hearing to enjoy just like everybody else.”

The concert debuted on YouTube on July 6, receiving nothing but positive feedback since then as well as gaining support and fans from as far away as Great Britain.

Guendling has received equal support from his coaches here at Texas State. Coach Dennis Franchione saw the video while at a coaches' retreat and was completely unaware of Guendling's upbringing until that point.

“We met the family and everything, but I don’t remember them going into any detail or talking about any of those things,” Franchione told Yahoo Sports regarding the handicap. “So, it was kind of threw us a little bit. But we were all really proud of him and thought it was a great thing. We were pretty impressed with the whole choreography of the thing, our players all involved in it.”

Because of Guendling's success and the outpouring of support he has received, he plans to continue performing his concerts, with the next one slated to feature up to eight songs. He would eventually like to take his talents around the world.

“I want to do the first concert the deaf and hearing can enjoy together,” Guendling said. “It’s gonna be awesome.”

Brian's story is truly inspiring. We will definitely be on look out for him both on the field and in the entertainment industry as he continues to inspire people around the world.