BATON ROUGE — LSU football coach Brian Kelly decided to award two No. 18 jerseys for the 2024 season.

Senior running back, and former walk-on, Josh Williams earned the the uniform for the offensive side of the ball while senior linebacker Greg Penn III will wear No. 18 on defense. Kelly honored both players after practice Thursday and the team announced the decision Thursday night.

This season marks the first time since 2021 that LSU will have two prominent players sporting the prestigious jersey for the Tigers. No. 12 LSU kicks off the 2024 season against USC at the Vegas Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas on Sunday, Sept. 1 (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC).

Williams, who is in his sixth season at LSU, has not been a key contributor during his career but will be a major contributor for the Tigers' offense at the running back in 2024. Williams has bided his time over the years, waiting behind several other tailbacks before finally getting his shot.

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In 2023, Williams carried the ball 55 times for 284 yards and scored five touchdowns and also had a receiving score. For his career, he has 12 total TDs to go along with 1,012 yards rushing.

“I’ve had a long journey, coming here as a walk-on in 2019 and now in my sixth season," Williams said in a news release. "Being able to represent LSU with the No. 18 jersey means a lot to me. Seeing the No. 18s that I have played with over the years and seeing what they meant to the team and what they mean to LSU, I just want to thank coach Kelly and the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to wear this special number.”

Penn, the senior from Baltimore, has developed into one of the team's leaders. In his first three seasons at LSU, Penn has tallied 178 career tackles with two interceptions, four sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss. Last season, Penn finished second on the team in tackles for the season and has been regarded as a top returner at his position in the Southeastern Conference.

“He kept our defense together last year,” Kelly said of Penn in a release. “We won 10 games last year and he kept our unit together through some difficult times, because he was about LSU football. He was about, when we brought a transfer in at his position, all he did was work harder. He represents all the principles of being a great teammate and a guy you can count on.”

The tradition of LSU's No. 18 jersey dates back to former quarterback Matt Mauck, who guided the Tigers to their first national championship since 1958 in 2003. Since, the jersey has become synonymous with a player that sitting LSU head coach selects before each season who excels both on the field and off of it.

Coaches pick a leader on the team and for Kelly, specifically, he has noted he favors a player that has focus, an attention for detail and overall leadership within the team.

Previous LSU football No. 18 jersey players

2023: DT Mekhi Wingo

2022: DE B.J. Ojulari

2021: PK Avery Atkins

2020-21: LB Damone Clark

2020: LB Damone Clark, RB Chris Curry

2019: LB K'Lavon Chaisson, C Lloyd Cushenberry III

2018: DT Christian LaCouture

2017: DT Christian LaCouture, TE J.D. Moore

2016: CB Tre'Davious White

2015: Tre'Davious White

2014: RB Terrance Magee

2013: LB Lamin Barrow

2012: DT Bennie Logan

2011: S Brandon Taylor

2010: RB Richard Murphy

2008-09: TE Richard Dickson

2004-07: FB Jacob Hester

2003: QB Matt Mauck

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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz atbdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Brian Kelly names which players will wear LSU football No. 18 jersey