Saints rookie Zxavian Harris has chosen a surprising new jersey number

Yahoo Sports3h ago20 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Saints rookie Zxavian Harris has chosen the No. 67 jersey for his professional career, despite previously wearing No. 51 in college. The decision comes as veteran Cesar Ruiz occupies No. 51, while Harris's fellow rookie Christen Miller has taken No. 52.

Key points

Zxavian Harris is a rookie for the New Orleans Saints.
He chose jersey number 67, previously wore No. 51 in college.
Cesar Ruiz occupies No. 51, and Christen Miller has No. 52.
Martin Emerson Jr. is wearing No. 47 this season.

Mentioned in this story

Ole MissGermantown High School

New Orleans SaintsZxavian HarrisCesar RuizChristen Miller

Saints rookie Zxavian Harris has chosen a surprising new jersey number

Zxavian Harris threw us a curve ball. The New Orleans Saints signed Harris as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss, where he wore the same No. 51 jersey he used at Germantown High School, but he's going to be using a new number as a pro. That much was expected -- veteran right guard Cesar Ruiz already claimed No. 51, and he wasn't going to give it up. But the No. 50 jersey was up for grabs, and recent NFL rules changes meant Harris was eligible to wear it as a defensive lineman. His fellow rookie Christen Miller, a nose tackle out of Georgia, is using No. 52.

Instead, Harris is listed on the official team website in the No. 67 jersey. Maybe it's a move to make the rookie earn a number he really wants, but that isn't the Saints' usual approach. Maybe Harris picked it to take part in the six-seven meme popular with Zoomers. Maybe it's just happenstance.

Harris was one of two players left without a jersey number on the team website; veteran cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. was the other, and he's going to be wearing No. 47, at least for now. Emerson has used Nos. 1 and 23 earlier in his NFL career so he may be waiting for better options to open up later this summer. It's something to keep an eye on before numbers are locked in come September.

Q&A

Why did Zxavian Harris choose jersey number 67 with the Saints?

Zxavian Harris chose jersey number 67 possibly to participate in the six-seven meme popular among younger fans, as No. 51 was already taken by veteran Cesar Ruiz.

What jersey number did Zxavian Harris wear in college?

In college at Ole Miss, Zxavian Harris wore the No. 51 jersey, which he also used during his time at Germantown High School.

Who else on the Saints is wearing a new jersey number this season?

Fellow rookie Christen Miller is wearing No. 52, while veteran cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. will wear No. 47.

When will the Saints finalize their jersey numbers for the season?

The Saints are expected to finalize their jersey numbers by September, before the start of the regular season.