The Arizona Cardinals announced over the weekend what uniform numbers their six draft picks will wear this coming season. Linebacker Isaiah Simmons, the team’s first-round pick, has No. 48.
The number makes sense. As a hybrid player who played as a linebacker and defensive back, a number in the 40s can be worn by both position groups.
When Simmons was deciding on his number, it came down to a couple of things, he said when he spoke to reporters on Monday.
“48, something I learned just the more and more I learned about Arizona day by day is it was the 48th state, so there is some significance right there,” he said.
For Arizonans, that is great to hear.
He said there is no personal significance to the number in particular, noting he has “always been a really low number” before. He wore No. 11 at Clemson. He would not have been able to wear that with the Cardinals for a number of reasons. Linebackers can’t wear numbers in the teens and that number belongs to Larry Fitzgerald.
As for No. 48, there is the historical significance, but it ultimately came down to one important thing.
“I feel I’m going to look good it in, so that’s really the reason.”
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Ep.265
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Ep. 264
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