LSU’s traditional No. 18 jersey honors are returning to the trenches this season.
The Tigers announced center Braelin Moore as this year’s selection to don the uniform which has been awarded annually for more than two decades to a player who exemplifies extraordinary leaderships.
He becomes the first offensive lineman since center Lloyd Cushenberry III (Dutchtown) in the program’s 2019 national championship season.
[ READ MORE: TREY’DEZ GREEN, WHIT WEEKS SELECTED AT LSU’S NEW NO. 7’S ]
The tradition began when quarterback Matt Mauck, who led the Tigers to the 2003 national championship, passed the number to running back Jacob Hester (Evangel Christian), who helped the team climb the title mountain again in 2007.
Moore, like Cushenberry, will wear the “18” as a patch on his jersey because of NCAA rules that “strongly recommend” offensive linemen wear Nos. 50-79.
The 6-foot-2, 300-pound fifth-year senior arrived to Baton Rouge last year after three seasons at Virginia Tech and was a bright spot on an LSU line that struggled overall.
After some consideration of potentially entering the 2025 NFL Draft, he opted to return for a final season with the Tigers and new coach Lane Kiffin as one of few holdover leaders from last year’s roster.
Moore started 12 games in 2025, including playing every offensive play in eight, and allowed just one sack in 623 snaps during the season.
Despite injuring his ankle on the first play of the Tigers’ home opener Sept. 6 against Louisiana Tech, he returned the following week to play all 55 snaps against Florida.
He allowed a sack Sept. 20 against Southeastern Louisiana and then not another the remainder of the season.
Moore is among a small core group, particularly on offense, to return with significant LSU playing experience to lead a new-look roster with high expectations in his final college season.
LSU’s No. 18 JERSEY TRADITION
2001-03 — Matt Mauck, quarterback
2004-07 — Jacob Hester, running back ***
2008-09 — Richard Dickson, tight end
2010 — Richard Murphy, running back ***
2011 — Brandon Taylor, safety ***
2012 — Bennie Logan, defensive tackle ***
2013 — Lamin Barrow, linebacker ***
2014 — Terrance Magee, running back ***
2015-16 — Tre’Davious White, cornerback ***
2017 — Christian LaCouture, defensive line; John David Moore, tight end ***
2018 — Foster Moreau, tight end ***
2019 — K’Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher; Lloyd Cushenberry III, center ***
2020 — Chris Curry, running back
2020-21 — Damone Clark, linebacker ***
2022 — B.J. Ojulari, edge rusher
2023 — Mekhi Wingo, defensive tackle
2024 — Greg Penn III, linebacker; Josh Williams, running back
2025 — Garrett Nussmeier, quarterback ***
2026 — Braelin Moore, center
(***Note: Asterisks denote Louisiana natives to wear the No. 18)
