It’s a talking point among fans before every LSU football season, who will wear the #18 and the #7 jerseys. We got our answer Thursday night and maybe it’s a good thing that Coach Brian Kelly could not just pick one player to wear those coveted jersey numbers.
Sixth year running back Josh Williams and starting linebacker Greg Penn will each wear number 18. It’s been handed down ever since 2003 when Matt Mauck decided to give his number 18 jersey number to Jacob Hester.
It goes to the player that best exemplifies what it means to be an LSU football player. You must be a great teammate, student and represent the program well on and off the field.
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Williams was a walk-on when he arrived at LSU in 2019 and earned a national championship ring. His hard work resulted in him getting on scholarship and now he enters the 2024 season as the Tigers starting running back.
“I’ve had a long journey, coming here as a walk-on in 2019 and now in my sixth season. Being able to represent LSU with the number 18 jersey means a lot to me.”
Penn will also wear the number 18 jersey. He was one of the more productive players on LSU’s defense last season as he recorded 89 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception.
“He (Greg Penn) kept our defense together last year,” Kelly said. “We won 10 games last year and he kept our unit together through some difficult times, because he was about LSU football.”
The number seven jersey goes to the team’s best player who is from Louisiana or calls Louisiana home.
Offensive tackle Will Campbell, who did not allow a sack last season, wore a number seven patch on his jersey in 2023, because offensive lineman cannot have a single-digit number. Campbell will have that number seven patch again this year. The former Neville star could be a top five pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
Campbell is a pre-season All-American, as is linebacker Harold Perkins; and Perkins will also wear number this year too.
“He has uplifted the other 10 players on the defensive side of the ball and he’s ready to wear this jersey,” Kelly said.
In his two seasons wearing a number four jersey, Perkins has 26 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and nine forced turnovers.