LSU Football picks its recipients of honorable jersey numbers for the 2024 season

One of the best traditions in College Football and certainly the best tradition at LSU is the recipients of the number 7 and number 18 jerseys. While being a captain is a massive honor, wearing these numbers is the greatest honor at LSU.

The tradition of the number 18 jersey started with Matt Mauck who handed the number off to Jacob Hester and its since been handed down to the extraordinary leaders of the team. Brian Kelly spoke about the significance of the number 18 jersey saying the following:

"Throughout the last 25 years, the number 18 has been passed down to a player who brings all those traits of a great teammate. Somebody who has given himself up for the team. A guy you can count on, a guy you want next to you when adversity hits, a guy that’s going to be there when you need him. That’s number 18"

- Brian Kelly

This season, running back Josh Williams and linebacker Greg Penn III will sport the number 18 for LSU. Williams is the perfect representative for the number as one of the few pieces left from the 2019 National Title team entering his sixth season. His journey at LSU has been incredible as a former walk-on who will be a massive piece in 2024.

Greg Penn III is another true leader of this team and the defense heading into the 2024 season. While Harold Perkins gets a ton of the attention, Penn has been reliable in the middle of the defense and has kept the group together over the past few years. It is a little upsetting that we won't get to see Penn in the number three jersey which he was planning to wear to honor Greg Brooks but, we're happy Penn got the credit he deserves.

Brian Kelly then awarded the number 7 jersey to Harold Perkins saying the following about what the seven means to the program:

"(this number) is about somebody that brings an incredible ability, is from the state and calls the state of Louisiana his home. This number is about a player that brings up others around him. You can’t just be a great player, if it’s just about him, the number 7 jersey doesn’t work. You have to bring others up around him and that’s what these two do. They elevate the play of those around him."

- Brian Kelly

This is an incredible honor yet, a very fitting honor for Harold Perkins. When it comes to being a true difference maker, Perkins has been leaps and bounds the best player on the defense the past two seasons. The presence of Perkins makes everyone's job around him easier yet, he's still proven to be a productive player.

On offense, Will Campbell will once again hold the honor of being LSU's number 7. It's a shame that the NCAA will allow just about anything in this era of College Football but, Will Campbell can't actually wear the number seven. Campbell will likely sport a seven-patch but, there is no better candidate to have the honor than the clear leader of this team on and off the field.

Massive years coming up for the four recipients

Heading into the 2024 season, the four recipients will have massive roles within the team and could finish off incredible careers by leading LSU to the playoffs. Perkins and Campbell are the Tigers best players and they'll look to provide massive impacts on a team with a ton of turnover. Josh Williams is poised for his biggest season yet as LSU looks to replace Jayden Daniels and Logan Diggs. Greg Penn III will likely wear the green dot this season as well as the on-field communicator for the defense and he'll look to be a massive presence in the middle.

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