LSU has handed out its latest No. 18, and this one lands on a familiar kind of player for a number built around leadership.
Braelin Moore, LSU’s fifth-year senior center, received the honor this week. The award goes to the player who best represents leadership and good character, but because Moore is an offensive lineman, he’ll keep wearing No. 61 under NCAA numbering rules. The No. 18 will show up as a jersey patch instead.
That makes Moore only the second LSU offensive lineman ever to get the number. The first came in 2019, when center Lloyd Cushenberry was chosen for the distinction. That season turned into a perfect one for the Tigers, who went undefeated and won the national title with Joe Burrow at quarterback and Ed Orgeron as coach.
There’s a little bit of that old LSU flavor around the program again. This is Lane Kiffin’s first year leading the Tigers, but Orgeron is back on staff as a special assistant to recruiting and defense. LSU also has a transfer quarterback behind center again in Sam Leavitt, though Burrow was already in his second season with the Tigers back in 2019.
Kiffin has kept the tradition of special jersey numbers alive, including No. 7, which goes to the team’s best playmaker. LSU hasn’t announced this season’s No. 7 yet, but tight end Trey’Dez Green is viewed as a leading candidate.
Moore wasn’t the only lineman in the conversation for No. 18.
Multiple Tigers had pointed to fifth-year guard Bo Bordelon, who has finally earned a starting role, as someone worthy of the honor. Senior linebacker Whit Weeks was also mentioned as a candidate, with plenty of support because of the way he quarterbacks LSU’s defense.
Last season’s No. 18 belonged to quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
Now it belongs to Moore, who is in his second year at LSU after transferring from Virginia Tech for the 2025 season. He logged 623 offensive snaps last season and did not allow a sack against power-conference teams.
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