BATON ROUGE — No. 7 has become an annual reservation for LSU football's top playmaker.

Star junior left tackle Will Campbell was a worthy keeper of the honorary jersey number in 2023 and his hold on the patch — because he's an offensive linemen and by rule he's only allowed to wear jersey Nos. 50 through 79 during games, of which he sports No. 66 — is rolling over into 2024.

But a teammate will be joining him in No. 7 lore in 2024. Junior linebacker Harold Perkins was awarded the prestigious jersey by LSU coach Brian Kelly following the team's practice Thursday evening.

This marks the first time since the team began honoring specific players with No. 7 uniform that two players will bestow the honor in the same season.

“He has uplifted the other 10 players on the defensive side of the ball and he’s ready to wear this jersey,” Kelly said in a news release honoring Perkins with the No. 7 jersey.

Perkins has been one of LSU's best players since his freshman season in 2022 when he burst onto the national scene with his innate ability to pressure the opposing quarterback. He finished his freshman campaign with 7.5 sacks en route to being named a freshman All-American by several organizations.

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In two years, Perkins has amassed 147 total tackles, 13 sacks, 26 tackles-for-loss as well as two interceptions, seven forced fumbles and nine passes defended.

While he's shifted positions in new defensive coordinator Blake Baker's scheme to play more inside linebacker, Perkins is still expected to make plenty happen for LSU's defense as he's expected to be one of the most exciting defensive players in college football in 2024.

Since the days of former LSU standout cornerback Patrick Peterson, who wore the number, the Tigers began handing out No. 7 to one of the team's expected top playmakers. Other LSU legends such as Tyrann Mathieu and Leonard Fournette wore No. 7.

Previous LSU football No. 7 jersey players

2023: LG Will Campbell

2022: WR Kayshon Boutte

2021: CB Derek Stingley, Jr.

2020: WR Ja'Marr Chase

2019: S Grant Delpit

2017: WR D.J. Chark

2014-16: RB Leonard Fournette

2011: S Tyrann Mathieu

2008-2010: CB Patrick Peterson

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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: Harold Perkins, Will Campbell to wear LSU football No. 7 jersey in '24