Incoming recruit number speculation

Now that we know who is or isn't going to be in the class, let's speculate what their jersey numbers might be!

As a note, not every recruit will be in the number shown in their "promo" photo.  For instance, Devin Bush Jr. was shown in #11, but that number is retired for the Wistert brothers.  So without further ado, here's my attempt to guess the numbers:

Rashan Gary: 3. Wore both #3 and #33 in HS, but Taco Charlton has #33 for one more year. Big-time DL recruits recently have seemed to like single-digit numbers (Clowney, Hand, McDowell), and #3 is free on defense after Desmond Morgan’s graduation.

Ben Bredeson: 74. Wore it in HS, and nobody currently wears it.

Brandon Peters: 18. Wore it in HS, and no offensive player currently wears #18.

David Long: 16. This one is tough. Long wore #6 in HS, but that’s taken by fellow CB Keith Washington. He wore #17 at the Army All-American game, but that’s taken by Freddy Canteen, who may see snaps on defense. So I’ll give him 16, as something in between those numbers, since no defensive player currently wears it.

Devin Asiasi: 16. Wore it in HS, took a picture in a #16 jersey on his visit, and no scholarship offensive player currently wears it. A potential complicating factor is that kicker Andrew David wears 16, and coaches might want to use Asiasi on special teams.

Michael Onwenu: 53. Wore #52 in HS, but that’s taken by Mason Cole. #53 is one higher, and he wore that during the Army All-American game. No player on the roster is currently #53.

Kareem Walker: 6. Wore it in HS, and the only offensive player wearing #6 is redshirt senior walk-on QB Brian Cleary. Bonus: Tyrone Wheatley flashbacks.

Dylan Crawford: 2. This one is tough. Wore #2 in HS and #6 at the Army All-American Game, but Ahmir Mitchell and Kareem Walker are early enrollees and I’m projecting them to take those numbers. However, it looks like Mitchell might play defense, in which case 2 is open for an offensive player. If that’s not the case, I have no idea… maybe 81 or 84?

Lavert Hill: 31. Wore #21 in HS, but it’s retired for Desmond Howard. Increase it to 31, which no scholarship defender currently wears.

Ahmir Mitchell: 2. Wore it in HS, and was photoshopped into it in a recruiting picture. No player currently wears #2.

Brad Hawkins: 26. Wore #6 in HS, but Kareem Walker is an early enrollee and I’m projecting him to take it. If he plays defense, Keith Washington already has #6. 26 is a cool WR number, but I really have no idea. If he plays defense, he could take #3, as he wore that number in HS basketball.

Ron Johnson: 57. Wore #7 in HS, but that’s taken by fellow DE Shelton Johnson. So why not 57?

Carlo Kemp: 55. Wore #5 in HS, but that doesn’t seem to be available for a defensive player right now, unless Kemp redshirts for a year. No scholarship defender currently wears #55, and it’s a great number for a defensive lineman (Brandon Graham, anyone?).

Devin Bush Jr.: 10. Wore #11 in HS, but that’s retired for the Wistert brothers. No defender currently wears #10.

Chris Evans: 13. Wore #12 in HS, but that’s taken by Alex Malzone. 13 is available on both offense and defense, and is a good number for a jack-of-all-trades like Evans, who might play RB, WR, or DB.

Nick Eubanks: 81. Wore #1 and #11 in HS, but #11 is retired and he probably won’t get #1 right away. So I’ll give him 81, since that’s a TE number that is currently available.

Khaleke Hudson: 12. Wore #21 in HS, but it’s retired for Desmond Howard. So I’ll flip it, since no defender currently wears #12.

Eddie McDoom: 84. Wore #11 in HS, but that’s retired for the Wistert brothers. #84 is a good WR number and is currently available. If Harbaugh doesn’t care about the Braylon Edwards “earn it” quasi-tradition, could be given #1.

Elysee Mbem-Bosse: 35. Wore #34 in HS, but Jeremy Clark has that on defense for one more year, so he’ll take Joe Bolden’s number instead. If he redshirts, could go straight to #34.

Nate Johnson: 15. Wore #2 in HS, but that almost certainly won’t be available, so I’ll randomly give him #15, which seems like a good slot receiver number. A potential complicating factor is if we give #15 to John O’Korn so that he can be on the field at the same time as Peppers (they currently both wear #5). Your guess is as good as mine.

Quinn Nordin: 15. Wore it in HS, and it’s free now after the departures of James Ross and Jake Rudock. John O’Korn might switch to #15, but he wouldn’t be on the field at the same time as Nordin, so that’s fine.

Josh Uche: 49. Wore #9 in HS, but Mike McCray has that number on defense. #49 seems like a good number for a hybrid edge rush defender.

Kingston Davis: 29. Wore #20 in HS, but Drake Johnson has that for now. Could switch to #20 ether after his freshman season, or if he redshirts. But 29 is a good FB number, and there isn’t an offensive player who is currently #29.

Stephen Spanellis: 78. Wore it in HS. Erik Magnuson currently has it, but he only has one more year, and Spanellis is a lock to redshirt.

Josh Metellus: 32. Wore 23 in HS, but Tyree Kinnel has that. So why not flip it?

Sean McKeon: 86. Wore it in HS, and seeing as he’s a 230-lb TE prospect, he’ll probably redshirt. Chesson graduates after next year, and 86 will be available.

Michael Dwumfour: 50. Wore it in HS, and no scholarship player currently has it.

Devin Gil: 29.Wore #9 in HS, but it’s not available, so why not 29?