Ahead of the 2024 football season, the LSU Tigers now have given their prestigious jersey numbers of 7 and 18.
Sixth-year senior Josh Williams and senior linebacker Greg Penn will wear #18 which was made prestigious by 2003 National Championship QB Matt Mauck. The more prestigious #7 will be worn by linebacker Harold Perkins Jr while the #7 patch given to Will Campbell a year ago will remain for 2024.
“The number 18 jersey has great historical significance with our program,” head coach Brian Kelly told the team at midfield in Tiger Stadium. “Matt Mauck was the first to wear it. He came to this program after playing professional baseball and won a national championship wearing the number 18. He epitomized all the intangibles of a teammate – he had all the things we talk about when it comes to great traits. He passed that number on to another great LSU player in Jacob Hester who led his team to another national championship.
“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.”
Williams has been in the Tigers program since the National Championship run of 2019 and has 1012 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons of on-field action. The Houston native will look to be a featured part of the rushing attack during his final season of eligibility.
Penn has 178 total tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions during his career in Purple and Gold, including a breakout 2023 with 89 tackles and all four of his career sacks. Penn, a 6’2″ linebacker, will carry the middle of the defense with Perkins.
Perkins will wear the #7 jersey after superstars like Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, Leonard Fournette, and others made it one of the most popular jersey numbers in program history. The New Orleans native has had a massive career, including a breakout freshman campaign with 72 tackles and 7.5 sacks. In two seasons, Perkins has 147 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks.
“(this number) is about somebody that brings an incredible ability, is from the state and calls 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.”
Campbell was a massive prospect for Brian Kelly, starting as a true freshman and quickly making an impact in the LSU offensive line. After two seasons, he’s a Top 10 prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft and will wear a #7 patch on his jersey due to the NCAA rules about jersey numbers by position.
LSU’s season gets underway in Las Vegas on Sunday, September 1st when they take on USC at Allegiant Stadium.