Will Campbell awarded No. 7 for LSU's 2023 season
There’s a new No. 7 on the LSU football team this season, but it’s not a defensive back or a wide receiver.
On Saturday, LSU announced offensive lineman Will Campbell had been given the honor following the conclusion of the team’s fall camp in August.
“The No. 7 jersey tradition is unique and special to this program and worn by some of the greatest players to wear the Purple and Gold,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said. “We want to build open that tradition and honor the best player on our team who is from the state of Louisiana. Will Campbell has made such an impact on our team in such a short amount of time and embodies the qualities to join the legacy of the players that have come before him.”
Campbell, who wears No. 66, will wear a No. 7 patch as an offensive lineman. The Tigers had former starting center Lloyd Cushenberry wear a No. 18 patch when he was given the honor in the final season of his career.
Campbell, from Monroe, earned second-team All-SEC honors last year as well as being named a Freshman All-America by Walter Camp. He played every offensive snap in the eight SEC games in which he appeared.
Campbell will be a key piece to LSU’s offense
LSU returns six offensive linemen who started at least one game for the Tigers in 2022, and Campbell is one of the most important pieces.
He started in 13 games as a true freshman a year ago, and he was joined by Emery Jones to become the first pair of true freshmen to start at offensive tackle in program history.
“I think you gotta start with the two tackles, the two freshmen tackles,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said in May when asked about the strength of the offensive line. “Both from the state of Louisiana … We threw them into the fire last year and knew we were going to have to take our lumps a little bit. And we did.
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“They are, I think, poised to have great seasons. Both of them have been outstanding in terms of their work ethic, learning the position.”
A former four-star recruit, Campbell will be protecting LSU starting quarterback Jayden Daniels for the second consecutive year. The LSU rushing attack finished No. 41 in the nation last year, producing 2,574 yards and averaging 4.98 yards per carry. The Tigers allowed 45 sacks, however, which finished No. 116 in the country.
The No. 7 tradition continues under Brian Kelly
Since the No. 7 jersey gained popularity at LSU in the early 2000s, the Tigers have often given the number out to one of the team’s biggest playmakers.
In 2008, Patrick Peterson gained national notoriety while wearing the jersey number. Other Tigers who’ve worn the number include Tyrann Mathieu, Leonard Fournette, Grant Delpit and Derek Stingley Jr..
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte wore the No. 7 jersey during the 2022 season. Two years prior, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was picked to wear the jersey, but he didn’t suit up for the Tigers during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season.
