Multiple players having the same jersey number - new trend?

Submitted by treetown on September 17th, 2023 at 12:40 PM

Older person who remembers the old sales pitch "Get your programs here! Can't tell the players without a program" way back when.

Having two players have the same number has occured in the past, but not that frequently. When tring to get ready for this season, made my own spotting chart and realized that there were a lot of players sharing the same number:

For example:

0 - Mike Sainristill and Darrius Clemons

1 - Roman Wilson and Amorion Walker

2 - Blake Corum and Will Johson

3 - Fredrick Moore and Keon Sabb

4 - Jayden Denegal and Micah Pollrd

5 - Karmello English and Josaiah Stewart

6 - Cornelus Johnson and Brandyn Hillman

7 - Donovan Edwards and Makari Page

8 - Derrick Moore and Tyler Morris

9 - JJ McCarty and Rod Moore

10 - Alex Orji and Zeke Berry

etc. 

There were 54 pairs on the roster:  https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster ? Is this a new trend in CFB? It is an economical issue? Does it simplify jersey stocking each hear, just replace the name strip.

schreibee

September 17th, 2023 at 2:19 PM ^

Of all the numbers you listed, thus far only #8 has had more than a cursory usage on both sides of the ball.

For the others, 1 of the players is playing little or not at all...

Although I guess upon reflection you could think to yourself "Hey, they're using Sainristil at WR again?!" on the rare plays Clemons is in...

Qmatic

September 17th, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^

This reminds me of UTL I. At this point, duplicate numbers was around for a while in the program, they would usually never be 2 players who both were contributors/scholarship players on either side of the ball.

In UTL 1 we had a backup QB who was pretty well known and he wore #7 named Devin Gardner. We had a less known LB wearing #7 named Brandin Hawthorne. Hawthorne made quite a few plays that game, and since there also were not nameplates on those uniforms that day, the older gentleman behind me all night was convinced “Devin Gardner is playing LB tonight and making a ton of plays!”

Mr. W

September 17th, 2023 at 5:25 PM ^

Is this a new trend in CFB?

- No, this has been happening for years. As mentioned above, there's only 100 possible numbers so at minimum there will be at least 30 duplicates.

It is an economical issue?

- Nike (Jordan) are paying for them. The Athletic Department is not paying for the jerseys. 

Does it simplify jersey stocking each hear, just replace the name strip?

- All players keep their bowl game jersey at the end of each season. Seniors keep their regular season jerseys once their career is done. With differing jersey sizes and cuts it's unlikely that a specific jersey would be reusable for another player.

True Blue Grit

September 17th, 2023 at 6:12 PM ^

One factor compared to the old days (which I was also around for), is there are more walk ons than there used to be.  I'm not sure what's driving that though.  Maybe Harbaugh likes the idea of having more hard working players on the roster that don't cost him a scholarship, a few of which can turn into starters.  

Broken Brilliance

September 18th, 2023 at 11:58 AM ^

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am so so bored with the single digits. Roman and Rod could have redefined #14 and #19 so that it was theirs and now it's kind of boring to see the roster.

CFraser

September 18th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^

Been like that for a while. I believe it’s that all the single digits are highly desired (historically stars in skill positions). So, as long as they are on different sides of offense/defense then it’s fine. Special teams is a nightmare though and sometimes they get caught with 2 at the same time and get flagged but I guess the demand for those #s is high enough that it’s worth it to make the kids happy.