Alabama Football: Najee, Smitty keep college jersey numbers
By Dakota Cox
Two Alabama football legends will rep the same jersey numbers in the NFL
After finding out where Alabama football players will begin their NFL careers, fans instantly turn to what jersey numbers they will wear in the pros. We’ve seen some players wear the same number, like when Jalen Hurts wore No. 2 with the Eagles in his rookie year. Mark Ingram inevitably got to wear No. 22 with the Saints before heading to Baltimore. Henry Ruggs also got to keep his No. 11 in Vegas.
We’ve also seen some players ditch their iconic numbers once they made it to the pros. Derrick Henry couldn’t wear a single digit, so he is now No. 22. 13 was retired in Miami, so Tua went with No. 1. Most memorably, Julio Jones had to go with 11 when he was drafted in Atlanta.
It’s already jarring to see Alabama football players in new jerseys, and it’s even stranger to see them with new numbers. The good news is that two of Alabama’s first-round draft picks will wear the same numbers in the NFL as they did in college.
DeVonta Smith will be wearing No. 6 with the Philadelphia Eagles. His jersey number was already released. The Heisman winner will be looking to catch touchdown passes from Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia, and he will look similar to how he did in Tuscaloosa.
Also, Najee Harris will be wearing the iconic No. 22 in Pittsburgh. Alabama has seen success in the NFL with this number. Henry wears it with the Titans, and Mark Ingram wore it in both college and the pros.
Fans are still waiting for other players to release their jersey numbers. Jaylen Waddle may wear No. 17 for the Miami Dolphins, but a backup quarterback already has that jersey number. If Waddle wants it, they will have to figure something out.
Due to a rule change, Patrick Surtain is allowed to wear No. 2 with the Denver Broncos, but Kendall Hilton already has that number.
Next. Grading landing spots from NFL Draft. dark
This is always an interesting storyline in the offseason, but fans will have to wait to see what their favorite players will look like in their new NFL jerseys.