Changing jersey numbers

[anbailey76]

This is definitely an off-season topic, but we've seen several players the last couple of years change jersey numbers between seasons. Not sure where the trend started, but I was curious as to who might change numbers this spring? Any ideas or rumors?

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

It’s really dumb. Your number should be a part of your brand. Kobe can change his number, LeBron can change his number, but some depth piece riding pine just gets forgotten by changing his number

 

[anbailey76]

I'm also not a fan of two players having the same #. I know one is on offense and the other on defense, so they wouldn't be on the field at the same time, but that could affect a 2-way player like Boo Carter.

 

[volunator]

Could be players had a specific number in high school that wasnt availiable when they arrived. Through others graduating became open and they can now aquire it.

 

[VolsFan-TX]

It’s really dumb. Your number should be a part of your brand. Kobe can change his number, LeBron can change his number, but some depth piece riding pine just gets forgotten by changing his number

Bru switched his number to 5 after wearing 15 for two seasons. Squirrel switched numbers too. What is wrong with players switching to their preferred number when it becomes available?

 

[Majors]

It’s really dumb. Your number should be a part of your brand. Kobe can change his number, LeBron can change his number, but some depth piece riding pine just gets forgotten by changing his number

Sampson (#24), Bru (#15), Simmons (#51) just a few that changed from their original number.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Bru switched his number to 5 after wearing 15 for two seasons. Squirrel switched numbers too. What is wrong with players switching to their preferred number when it becomes available?

It hurts their brand. It makes them less memorable.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Sampson (#24), Bru (#15), Simmons (#51) just a few that changed from their original number.

A lot of guys do it these days, and I just think it’s dumb. I know people who followed every bit of news out of the program for years, and now due to transfers and jersey numbers, they don’t know half the players on the field, and half of the guys they do know, they can’t identify on the field until October. Your number should be part of your brand. It should be the biggest way people identify you now, 5 years from now, 25 years now. People remember big number 27 in the middle in 1998. In 25 years when anyone thinks back to Bru making that big catch on the final drive against Bama in 2022, no one will remember what number he wore.

 

[Majors]

It hurts their brand. It makes them less memorable.

Or recreates the brand, notable players like Donte Stallworth, Travis Stephens, Andre Lott, Ced Tillman all made switches. Pretty sure most remember the last number for these players.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

8/30/25…

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Or recreates the brand, notable players like Donte Stallworth, Travis Stephens, Andre Lott, Ced Tillman all made switches. Pretty sure most remember the last number for these players.

I believe Stallworth redshirted as number 83 but never played a game as any number other than 4. Tillman barely played for his first 3 years. I’m not sure Lott played any with any number other than 30.

Stephens did have some moments in 1998 before becoming 34. It used to happen some but it happens all the time now. I personally don’t like having to relearn the returning players’ numbers along with having to also learn new transfers, recruits, etc and think it makes guys less memorable.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

Keep the same number unless you're a standout player. But every kid on the damned team can't have earned the right to a new number. More of the new-age nonsense..

 

[VolPack22]

They should do what they make professional athletes do and make them buy the remaining stock of their former number and allow fans a free exchange for the new number.

 

[onthehill71]

Keep the same number unless you're a standout player. But every kid on the damned team can't have earned the right to a new number. More of the new-age nonsense..

Get off my lawn.

 

[Okie]

Keep the same number unless you're a standout player. But every kid on the damned team can't have earned the right to a new number. More of the new-age nonsense..

Matt Rhule has made it so that anyone who wants a single digit number at Nebraska has to earn it. Not sure what the qualifications are, but if you get a number less than 10, you have made a significant contribution to the team.

I do wonder how long it will be before players are paying other players for the number they want. You see this some in the NFL.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

They should do what they make professional athletes do and make them buy the remaining stock of their former number and allow fans a free exchange for the new number.

That's only if they don't give notice to the league the year before. It makes sense for the NFL not to want to screw their retailers who've already printed jerseys for the season but if you're changing next season, no penalty.

 

[Vols All Day]

This thread is terrible. This is a tell me you never played football without saying you never played football type of thread. Sometimes when you come in your favorite number is taken and you have to wait your turn until it opens up.

 

[tnvolfan16]

i heard once that in the NFL, to change your number, part of it is you had to pay some amount toward the replica jerseys that had been made

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

It’s really dumb. Your number should be a part of your brand. Kobe can change his number, LeBron can change his number, but some depth piece riding pine just gets forgotten by changing his number

Username checks out

 

[livefaith]

Could be players had a specific number in high school that wasnt availiable when they arrived. Through others graduating became open and they can now aquire it.

Yep, y'all are reading way too much in here. My daughter had a HS # for years. Went to Uni and starter had it. She got it as a SO. Just an identity thing for them. Not that deep in most cases.

 

[Carl Pickens]

It’s really dumb. Your number should be a part of your brand. Kobe can change his number, LeBron can change his number, but some depth piece riding pine just gets forgotten by changing his number

I bet you’re the life of the party…… if it’s the morgue