When you think the number 25 at Notre Dame you immediately think of one of the greatest to ever wear the blue and gold, let alone the number 25 for the Irish and that’s Raghib “Rocket” Ismail.
Ismail starred for the Fighting Irish from 1988-90 and was as exciting of college football player as there was at the time and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame last year.
Last year also saw another 25 take Notre Dame Stadium by storm because of his speed and that’s wide receiver Braden Lenzy.
Lenzy may have had only 24 touches on scrimmage plays last season but he made them count as he averaged 17.5 yards per touch while finding the end zone four times.
Lenzy moved on from that number 25 this season though in a move that he made history, becoming the first Notre Dame player to ever wear 0. Lenzy shared why he made the switch on Tuesday and it has to do with looking more like a receiver, not just a sprinter playing football.
“So, I switched to zero and it was more of a pride thing. When I looked at 25 it just kind of reminded me of what I was in like high school and early on in college, just a sprinter, just kind of a runner, or a track guy playing football. I thought getting a single digit number would kind of make me feel more like a true receiver, which I feel like that’s what I’ve developed into.”
Lenzy added that it’s also a bit of a nod to his home state of Oregon.
No one has ever worn it before, so on the cool side of it, I thought it’d be cool to be honest. I’m from Oregon, so zero, Oregon, you know, similar.”
Lenzy did not play in the opener against Duke as he was fighting a hamstring injury but had four touches against South Florida for 37 total yards. One would assume that the additions of a healthy Kevin Austin and Ben Skowronek will only help dictate coverage and create more possible ways for Lenzy to expose opponents secondaries to come.