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AJC College Sports Recruiting

Jersey numbers an important part of recruiting ritual

8:16 am August 5, 2009, by Chip Towers

Orson Charles and his coveted No. 7 jersey stand out next to fellow tight ends Bruce Figgins (89) and Bryce Ros (84). (Photo by amatuer photographer Chip Towers).

Orson Charles and his coveted No. 7 jersey stand out next to fellow tight ends Bruce Figgins (89) and Bryce Ros (84). (Photo by amatuer photographer Chip Towers).

One of the most enjoyable traditions of college football is the annual reshuffle-and-grab of jersey numbers initiated by the influx of new freshmen.

As has been well chronicled, the availability of the No. 1 was very important to Georgia signee Branden Smith, considered the top defensive back in the state last year. So was getting the No. 7 for tight end Orson Charles. Charles, of course, could not be assured of his number until Matthew Stafford announced his intention to enter the NFL draft this past January. Smith was assured the No. 1 in recruiting due to Mohamed Massaquoi’s impending graduation. But oftentimes a number could be promised to a letterman who was unable to get it when he first came in.

Alas, both players got what they wanted, as evidenced during Tuesday’s first practice with the Bulldogs. How integral getting those numbers was to their decisions to play for Georgia is debatable but both acknowledged it was important. Let’s hope it was secondary concern.

Meanwhile, here are some of the other numerical revelations unveiled with the Bulldogs’ first official practice Tuesday:

  • 2 — Sophomore Brandon Boykin abandoned his freshman No. 20 to snap up this digit left when fellow cornerback Asher Allen departed a year early for the NFL. A 1-2 pairing of Smith and Boykin on the corners could look pretty cool;
  • 5 – Quarterback Zach Mettenberger inherited this historically successful number from graduated senior CJ Byrd. Will it ever return to a kicker?
  • 15 — Highly-touted wide receiver Marlon Brown commandeered this jersey away from walk-on quarterback Johnathan Batson. Former fullback Larry Bowie is the last to have thrived in that jersey;
  • 17 — Wide receiver Rantavious Wooten had no competition for this number, previous worn by walkons;
  • 24 — The number made wildly popular by Knowshon Moreno the last two seasons seems to fit ballyhooed freshman tailback Washaun Ealey quite well;
  • 36 — Goes from FB Brannan Southerland to the defensive side of the ball on the back of freshman DB Shawn Williams;
  • 55 — Linebacker Michael Gilliard inherits from DE Jeremy Lomax;
  • 85 — Tackle Derrick Lott takes the number previously worn by flanker Demiko Goodman to the defensive side of the ball;
  • 93 — Freshman Abry Jones will be sharing the number made famous by DT Richard Seymour with senior Brandon Wheeling, at least for the time being.
  • Print

32 comments Add your comment

Saint Simons

August 5th, 2009
8:21 am

((((( 45 42 ))))) hahahahahaha

MattDawg

August 5th, 2009
9:23 am

Yay! I can where my Knowshon 24 jersey for Washaun!

YoungDawg

August 5th, 2009
9:27 am

Chip, I just looked at the roster on georgiadogs.com & noticed a couple of things worth checking out. Why is Kiante Tripp listed as LT & currently sharing # 83 with Cornelius Washington. Unless something has changed again Tripp was supposed to be back a DE to stay. Also if Arby Jones is wearing # 93 then why is Brandon Wheeling also listed with that number? Isn’t Wheeling the walk-on DT that recently was given a scholarship? These may be typos if not it would be interesting to know the stories behind these DL’s sharing the same numbers.

Wil Walton

August 5th, 2009
10:23 am

YoungDawg: That roster is always in flux. For part of last season, they had Tripp listed as DE with #79 (after he was initially moved to OL). Abry Jones vs. Brandon Wheeling for #93, this happens sometimes, multiple use of #s. It may indicate that they plan on redshirting Abry Jones to bulk him up.

Chip Towers

August 5th, 2009
10:24 am

YoungDawg: Kiante Tripp listed as #83 is a misprint. He’s still in the #75 jersey from his stint last year on the offensive line. . . . I didn’t catch that Wheeling was also in #93 but I’m checking on it. Normally the scholarship guy gets the nod when more than one player is assigned a jersey but Wheeling, a senior walkon, is expected to play this year and Jones is, well, a true freshman whose playing time remains up in the air. But I’m checking on it and will have an answer for you soon.

Ed

August 5th, 2009
11:07 am

Remember when Jabari Davis tried to get Herschel’s #34? He went to Tennessee, only to get his hat handed to him 3 of 4 years

BigDawg

August 5th, 2009
11:11 am

Saint Simons, you are really a pitiful one. All you have to do is jump on UGA blogs with GT’s one win over the Dawgs in the past 8 years and one of 12 wins since 1964. I guess with all of those recent ACC championships and GT’s stellar record against UGA, you are too wrapped up to enjoy doing anything else not involving yourself!! GO GT, where the men are men and so are the women!!

ColumbusDawg

August 5th, 2009
11:14 am

Chip- Also noticed that Austin Long was not issued a jersey number on the updated roster. Any reason for that?

1eyedJack

August 5th, 2009
11:19 am

There are 104 guys at practice (and retired #s) so somebody is going to have to share a number.

1eyedJack

August 5th, 2009
11:23 am

Kind of reminds me when I was playing HS ball in the late 70s. When we played at Valdosta they had so many players dress out that they had to duplicate some of the numbers. And some of the the younger guys (bench warmers) had to wear different colors.

Flo-Ri-Duh!

August 5th, 2009
11:48 am

Does Saint Simons need to be commited or what? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Wil Walton

August 5th, 2009
11:50 am

Jack: Different colored jerseys… that’s funny. Brings back memories from JV in HS. We played a team that had a 350+ lb freshman Nose Tackle and he had a different colored helmet b/c they couldn’t find one of their normal color to fit his big head. And his face was still cramed in there. LOL

Chip Towers

August 5th, 2009
11:50 am

Talked to Claude Felton over at UGA and Abry Jones-Brandon Wheeling both having 93 is just one of the flukes of having more players (104) than available numbers (100). It would appear that Wheeling, a former walkon who earned a scholarship for this season, would get first dibs on the digits since he’s expected to be in the playing rotation and, likewise, it would appear Jones is heading for a redshirt. But Claude said we shouldn’t read too much into it. As stated by “Wil Walton” jersey numbers are constantly in flux, especially early in the season. . . .

As for Austin Long, I’ll have to check on that.

HE RAPE ME

August 5th, 2009
11:56 am

The jersey numbers are obviously important, but we should follow the precedent of the XFL and give these young men the freedom to express themselves and put the names or nicknames of choice on the backs of their jerseys as well.

When they eventually go to prison, it will help other inmates in selecting an appropriate and relevant moniker for them.

Not Disappointed

August 5th, 2009
11:57 am

Who knew numbers ment so much, Chip. Interesting..

Ramblin Wreck.

YoungDawg

August 5th, 2009
12:13 pm

Chip, Thanks! For the info Tripp & getting clarifying the #93 situation. I know you’ll do a good job on the recruiting beat but we sure do miss you as the UGA beat writer!

'Bama 1

August 5th, 2009
12:30 pm

Who cares as long as ‘Bamas # 1 !

big dawg 89

August 5th, 2009
12:42 pm

i have a pretty funny story for ya, i know this for a fact, ladanian tomlinson chose tcu over kansas st years back mainly because it was closer to home, but he also said it was because he was able to wear number 5. he said k-state couldn’t guarantee him that he could have it.. he then proceeded to go on and on about the importance of being able to wear number 5 in the interveiw…my wife went to tcu and is always bragging that she graduated with him, but i’m always giving her a hard time that that’s the only reason he went there… i guess i’ll have to shut my mouth now, after the brandon smith comments…

Bryan G.

August 5th, 2009
12:52 pm

Well, we don’t REALLY have 100 available numbers, Chip. No 21, 34, 40, or 62. :)

Buddy El

August 5th, 2009
12:55 pm

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?????????????????? One more time. If we just ignore St. Simons 100% of the time he will eventually go away. It don’t get no simpler than that.

St. Simons Island Bulldog

August 5th, 2009
12:58 pm

I realise that blogging is entertainment, but if everyone would ignore SAINT SIMONS he will likely feel out another way to entertain himself!

Ed

August 5th, 2009
1:14 pm

Austin Long had back surgery and is missing the 2009 season. He won’t be available to practice for a while. Chip should know that.

Greyt Goose

August 5th, 2009
1:19 pm

And I have noticed that no one has wore #69 in a long time. I guess it is too much for a young fellow to handle.

FLDAWG

August 5th, 2009
1:32 pm

Austin Long is out for the season, he had back surgery in the off season.

Buck Strickland

August 5th, 2009
1:38 pm

I remember Ernie Sims wanted #34. I know we told him no, FSU obviously said yes, but did Auburn say he could have Bo’s number?

Ramblin Wrecker

August 5th, 2009
2:01 pm

Does Knowshon knowshon that Washaun washaun wearing his jersey number? In a couple of years they’ll hand #24 over to Whoshun?

Ramblin Wrecker

August 5th, 2009
2:02 pm

What I’d like to know is who is wearing 45 and 42?

THWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

steve

August 5th, 2009
2:19 pm

“no competition for this number, previous worn by walkons;” This sure sounds like a slight to some of the hardest working / non-scholarship players on the team. I would much rather see a player that is more concerned about the team and busts it everyday than one that is concerned about what # is on his jersey. As one of the Braves announcers said recently, “at the end of the season what name is on the front of the jersey is more important than the name and number on the back”. Here’s to the former #17 and all the other hard working walk-ons ….keep up the good work.

Chip Towers

August 5th, 2009
4:47 pm

ColumbusDawg: Freshman OL Austin Long is out for the season with a back injury and therefore is not among the official 104 in camp and not on the roster. . . . He probably has been promised a number but until I run into him or equipment manager John Meshad I can’t be sure what it is. . . .

Steve, no slight meant toward the walkons. They’re awesome people and absolutely essential to building a winning squad. That said, you know better than anybody how the numbers game works regarding walkons vs. schollies.

Chip Towers

August 5th, 2009
5:01 pm

I just got official word that Austin Long will (eventually) wear # 73.

Paddy

August 6th, 2009
7:24 am

Numbers have always been a facinating subject for players. No matter the sport. All guys like and want their number.

The Alpha Male

August 7th, 2009
9:03 am

51 to 7 still hurts, doesn’t it Nerds?