NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — When Landry Jones arrived at Oklahoma, he took the No. 12 jersey simply because it was the one he’d always worn.
Now, it takes on a whole new meaning.
The top-ranked Sooners plan to honor the late linebacker Austin Box this season by allowing different a defensive player to wear his old No. 12 jersey for each game. Jones already wears the same number on offense and says he asked Box’s parents for permission to keep it.
Oklahoma also plans to place decals with Box’s name and jersey number on each player’s helmet and has left his locker untouched.
Box overdosed on painkillers in May. He was preparing to enter his senior season and was expected to be the Sooners’ starting middle linebacker.
