LOOK: Devin Brown Pays Homage to NFL Legend With New Jersey Number

Devin Brown has yet to throw a pass in college, but his new look at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center stole the show Tuesday.

Author:
Casey Smith
Mar 7, 2023 3:33 PM EST

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Ohio State Buckeyes

Tuesday marked the Ohio State Buckeyes' first of 15 spring practices, and a 30-minute window of their workout was open to the media.

As you looked out across the Ohio State stretching lines, you saw some scarlet jerseys for offensive players, white jerseys for those on defense and black jerseys for quarterbacks, which particularly stand out among the group.

Kyle McCord donned his typical No. 6 jersey and newcomer Tristan Gebbia — a transfer from Oregon State — wore No. 14.

But, Devin Brown was sporting a new jersey number: 33.

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"I've always worn 33 my whole life. I just changed my profile picture from me in youth football still wearing 33. I wore it up until my sophomore year of high school," Brown said. "The only reason I had to change was because a senior running back had it, so I had to change. So it was really not by choice, I just kind of got 15, never worn 15.

"And then, when I moved to Utah, still wasn't an option to go to 33. Last year, wasn't an option. And then this year, I came to coach [Ryan] Day and we were just kind of talking about it and he loved it, so I'm so happy I actually get to wear it again."

And the first thing that went through Day's mind when he saw it?

"I thought of Larry Bird, I don't know why," Day said.

But of all the numbers out there, why did he choose 33?

"The reason behind it was Sammy Baugh," Brown said. "He was the first quarterback inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 with the Washington Football Team, so he's a legend. That's the original quarterback number in my opinion, so I wanted to wear the original quarterback number."

One of the biggest numbers on the Gilbert, AZ. native's mind, though, is No. 1: where he wants to be on the depth chart after this spring's competition against McCord.

"This is the best job in college football being the quarterback at Ohio State. There's really nothing better. This is the top job," Brown said. "You're the head of college football if you're the quarterback at Ohio State, so really have to lock in and my mindset is, 'I want to do everything possible to take this over.'"