What’s in a jersey number? 17 Alabama players share story behind theirs

The year Tyler Booker fell in love with football , he wore No. 54.

He was 9, playing youth football in Connecticut, when he decided he wanted to play football for as long as he could.

"So, I always wanted to keep that number to remind me of the love of the game," Booker said.

But he had to change it in college with Alabama football . Blame Tyler Steen.

Booker began as No. 54 in spring 2022. Then the Crimson Tide landed Steen via Vanderbilt in the transfer portal to play left tackle before fall camp. Steen, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, had been No. 54 at Vanderbilt.

"They're always going to give the senior the number," Booker said. "I just took the closest thing to it."

Booker became No. 52, what he now wears as one of Alabama's captains in 2024.

"And I love that number because it represented the new era of me," Booker said. "The college version."

Each jersey number, from five-star to walk-on, has a story behind it. Some short and practical. Some more substantive and interesting. Ultimately, there's a reason for each one.

"The number means a lot to a lot of guys," Booker said.

AL.com asked 17 Alabama players this season a similar question: How or why did you end up with your jersey number?

Here are their answers.

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QB Jalen Milroe: No. 4 Milroe has mathematical reasons for his jersey number.

First off, his birthday is Dec. 13. "So you just add 1 and 3," Milroe said.

Then there was a coach growing up in Texas who reinforced the idea.

Four.

The guy wearing four.

"It was those two things," Milroe said. "My birthday and then that situation."

The only problem — Milroe couldn't be No. 4 when he arrived in Tuscaloosa ahead of the 2021 season. Starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. had the number.

"Then I was like, 'I'm going to be even more clever,'" Milroe said. "What's three minus one? Two. So I was like, 'alright, I'm going to do that.'"

Milroe wore No. 2 his freshman year before making the switch his second season once Robinson departed for the NFL.

LB Jihaad Campbell: No. 11 For Campbell, his jersey number accompanies a mentality.

This season, Campbell had a chance to return to an old number. The linebacker wore 11 at IMG Academy in Florida, but when he arrived at Alabama, he switched to 30. Now, he's back to No. 11.

"My senior year, when I was still playing on the edge ... I felt tenacity with that number," Campbell said. "I felt it with 30 too, but 11 was a little bit freakier."

Freakier?

"Just a flying-around-the-ball number," Campbell said.

Campbell is one of a handful of returning players who changed numbers under new coach Kalen DeBoer. The biggest deciding factor whether you can change a jersey number under DeBoer — merit. Players must be in good standing with the program and be meeting the standards.

Players can make requests for a couple months in the offseason if they want to change. Coaches will have input, but the ultimate say goes to DeBoer.

Special teams also must be factored into jersey number decisions. One example: Alabama aims to avoid doubling up on a number that a specialist will wear. At least not with a player who would play on the same unit as the kicker, punter, etc. For example, punter James Burnip is the only No. 86 on the roster.

Many numbers will be in place by spring ball. Alabama will look to have numbers locked in by fall camp.

WR Ryan Williams: No. 2 Williams wanted to be different than the last great Alabama receiver with his last name. Williams wore No. 1 at Saraland High School , but that's the same number Jameson Williams wore for the Crimson Tide in 2021.

So, Ryan Williams went with No. 2, aligned with the tattoo on his arm that says "Deuce."

"When I first started playing football," Williams said, "that was my first number."

TE CJ Dippre: No. 81 Dippre wanted to be a quarterback in the NFL wearing No. 19. So when he was a quarterback/tight end at Lakeland High School in Pennsylvania, Dippre tried to get it. There was a problem, though.

"It was too big," Dippre said.

So, he picked the next closest number: No. 18. He wore it at Maryland, too.

Then Dippre transferred to Alabama in 2023 and No. 18 was unavailable.

"I didn't feel like I was obligated to ask for a number," Dippre said. "That's disrespectful to me. So I flipped it around."

DL Jah-Marien Latham: No. 20 Latham wanted a single-digit number when he arrived. He wore No. 3 in his official visit photos. Latham, however, ended up with No. 93.

"Which I was cool with," Latham said. "Jonathan Allen was one of my favorite players, so I really didn't care too much about a number."

Going into his fifth season, Latham figured he'd try for a single-digit number again. Latham was told those were mainly reserved for defensive backs. So, he got the closest he could, ending up with No. 20 for 2024.

DB Malachi Moore: No. 13 Moore had a chance to dress for varsity at Hewitt-Trussville High School and needed to pick a number.

"I told them to give me the lowest number they had," Moore said.

Moore had been No. 2 as a freshman in high school. But it wasn't available. The lowest number?

No. 13.

"I was a receiver at the time, so I was like hey, I can rock with it," Moore said. "After that, I just kept it. It just has kind of turned into my favorite number now."

RB Jam Miller: No. 26 No. 26 wasn't Miller's first choice.

"To be honest, I really wanted No. 4," Miller said.

He had worn it since his freshman year of high school. But Milroe owned that number when Miller arrived in 2022.

"26 was just a number that was available," Miller said, "and I decided to pick it."

DB Domani Jackson: No. 1 Often, landing a number is about timing. Jackson's was good.

Kool-Aid McKinstry had worn No. 1 on defense in 2023, but he departed for the NFL Draft. That left it open for Jackson, transferring from Southern Cal.

No. 1 is a family number; Jackson's father also wore it in high school. Then Jackson wore it for the Trojans and now Alabama.

"I just wanted to keep the tradition going," Jackson said. "The family tradition."

OL Parker Brailsford: No. 72 The former Washington center wanted No. 73, just like high school.

Then Washington lineman Roger Rosengarten, now a tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, grabbed it.

"So I took 72," Brailsford said.

He's stuck with it ever since.

TE Robbie Ouzts: No. 45 Former Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover wore No. 45 from 2000 to 2009.

"My favorite fullback growing up," Ouzts said.

So Ouzts picked the same number. Then in high school, the Rock Hill, South Carolina native had to select another number; No. 45 wasn't available. So, Ouzts became No. 81.

He reunited with No. 45 once he got to Alabama.

"As soon as I could get my hands back on it," Ouzts said, "I grabbed it."

LB Que Robinson: No. 34 Robinson recalls asking for No. 11, 22 or 33. He didn't get any of those, but he said he never complained about it.

"I just rocked with it," Robinson said. "I just made it my number."

DB Keon Sabb: No. 3 Terrion Arnold's departure for the NFL Draft couldn't have been better timed for Sabb.

After wearing No. 3 on Michigan's national championship team, Sabb transferred to Alabama. He wanted to wear No. 3 again. His dad wore it. His uncles wore it. His sister wore it. His little brother wears it now, too.

"It's a family number," Sabb said. "I had the opportunity (to wear it again). It was really good."

WR Germie Bernard: No. 5 Bernard's new quarterback at Alabama already had his No. 4, so the Washington transfer had to change.

"Five was one of my next options," Bernard said. "So I just went with it."

DB Jaylen Mbakwe: No. 9 Mbakwe was told to select numbers, and he got his pick: the same No. 9 he had at Clay-Chalkville.

He benefited from cornerback Trey Amos departing to Ole Miss in the transfer portal after Nick Saban retired.

"I'm glad I got it," Mbakwe said. "Wanted to keep it."

LS Kneeland Hibbett: No. 48 Hibbett didn't get to pick his number as a walk-on long snapper under Saban. He was given No. 51. He didn't mind, though.

"Thought it was super cool" Hibbett said because former Alabama long snapper Carson Tinker wore it.

Then Hibbett's sophomore season, another player on the point-after-attempt line needed No. 51. So Hibbett had to choose between No. 47, 48, 49 or 53.

"I was just like, I'll vibe with 48," said Hibbett, who was put on scholarship by DeBoer . "I liked all those numbers, but I don't know, 48 was just kind of calling my name. And I've been repping it ever since."

LB Deontae Lawson: No. 0 Ls wore No. 32 for three seasons, then before 2024, the captain decided to make some history.

Lawson became the first Alabama player ever to wear No. 0.

"I just wanted my own legacy," Lawson said. "Never been done. I just wanted to try my own thing."