Derek Stingley Jr. to Wear No. 7 in 2021

LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron announced late Tuesday afternoon that Derek Stingley Jr. will wear the famed No. 7 jersey for the 2021 season.

“It’s an honor to be part of the legacy of players that have worn the number 7 jersey,” Stingley said. “I’m looking forward to upholding the tradition and the standard of play that has been set by the group that has come before me.”

LSU prides itself on being DBU and Stingley may be the best the program’s ever had. Stingley has been a two-time All-American and All-SEC selection. He’s a Thorpe award favorite heading into the 2021 season and is a projected top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In 22 games Stingley has six interceptions and 26 pass breakups; he’s also recorded 65 tackles, recovered a pair of fumbles and returns punts for an average of 11 yards.

The No. 7 jersey has been one of LSU’s cooler and more recent traditions. The team’s playmaker has been wearing that number the last few seasons. The tradition started when Tyrann Mathieu inherited the number from Patrick Peterson in 2011. Since then Leonard Fournette, DJ Chark, and Grant Delpit have all worn the number. Last year JaCoby Stevens wore No. 7 after Ja’Marr Chase opted out of the 2020 season.