LSU football: Ja’Marr Chase is perfect choice to carry on proud tradition of wearing No. 7

Ja’Marr Chase will carry on the tradition of the No. 7 jersey number for LSU after a record-breaking sophomore season.

The No. 1 receiver in college football is now No. 7.

LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase was awarded the No. 7 jersey that was previously worn by legendary Tigers such as Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Leonard Fournette and most recently, Grant Delpit.

Now the honor belongs to Chase after a record-breaking sophomore season that saw him shatter program and SEC records along the way to winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver.

The All-American joined Josh Reed as the only LSU receivers to win the award. Chase led the nation with 20 receiving touchdowns on 84 receptions for 1,780 yards. He was Heisman winner, Joe Burrow‘s favorite target all the way to the National Championship Game when he had nine catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns vs. Clemson.

“This was a tough decision for me,” Chase said, via LSU’s website. “I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of weeks. I look at No. 7 as a competitive number. I think the No. 7 at LSU is a challenge. There’s a lot of things that go on in the year when you have 7 on, a lot of critics, a lot of people, a lot of expectations from 7, and I want to have that challenge upon me.”

The fraternity is one of the best in college football and Chase is up for the responsibility that comes with it, he tells Cody Worsham’s podcast.

It was an easy decision for LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, even if Chase had to think about it for a couple of weeks.

“Ja’Marr is a tremendous football player from the great state of Louisiana that represents our football program with great character and integrity,” Orgeron said. “(His parents) Jimmy and Toleah have done a great job of raising him and he has worked extremely hard on and off the field to develop as a player, while also becoming an outstanding leader for our team. He’s very deserving of having the opportunity to be the next LSU player to wear number 7. I know he will do a great job of representing that number and all of those who have worn the number 7 before him.”

Some of the members of the No. 7 club reacted to the big news for Chase on Twitter. Chase’s teammate from the 2019 national champions welcomed him to the club.

D.J. Chark is happy to have the No. 7 back on offense. Mathieu and Peterson approve of the pick.

https://twitter.com/DJChark82/status/1235691735491047425

Some LSU fans wondered if the No. 7 jersey would go to the next great member of DBU with Derek Stingley, Jr. getting the honors. But the rising sophomore still has one more year. He’ll definitely get the honor as a junior in 2021 after Chase passes the torch to him.

Stingley may even get to showcase the number on defense and offense as a junior and make a run for the Heisman. He would join Mathieu as Heisman finalists to wear the legendary No. 7.

It’s a proud tradition and Chase is the No.1 pick to wear No. 7.

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