Pittsburgh Steelers release official rookie jersey numbers for 2023 draft class

I don't know what it is about it, but for some reason, football fans everywhere wait anxiously to see which numbers their rookies have selected. These will be the numbers that we will watch these young players wear on Sundays, and some will have the chance to really make a name for themselves. We now know the numbers of every rookie from the Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 draft class.

Earlier in the week, we discovered that offensive tackle and first-round pick, Broderick Jones, would be sporting the number '77' in honor of his former Georgia teammate, Devin Willock, who passed away in a car crash. Likewise, Ike Taylor confirmed that CB Joey Porter Jr. was going to be wearing the number '24' to honor 'Uncle Ike'.

Now we know the numbers every player from the Steelers rookie class will wear in 2023 and beyond. On Wednesday morning, The Pittsburgh Steelers official Twitter account released a graphic showing the jersey numbers of all seven draft picks from the 2023 class:

Many fans were hoping that this rookie class would take advantage of the NFL's new jersey number rules that went into place over the past few years. Some were wanting Joey Porter Jr. to wear number '9' like he did during his Penn State career, and there just would have been something fun about seeing a 6'7'' tight end like Darnell Washington sporting the number '0' as he did at Georgia.

Whether it was the decision of Art Rooney II or the players, the entire Steelers rookie class decided to go the traditional route with their number selections. Here's what each player will be wearing in 2023:

Steelers rookie jersey numbers:

• OT Broderick Jones: #77
• CB Joey Porter Jr.: #24
• DL Keeanu Benton: #95
• TE Darnell Washington: #80
• LB Nick Herbig: #51
• CB Cory Trice Jr.: #27
• OL Spencer Anderson: #74

No big surprises here. Jones and Porter Jr. have already shared their reasoning for their jersey number selections. Meanwhile, Keeanu Benton will wear the same number '95' that he wore at Wisconsin. Washington will switch from number '0' to '80'.

Nick Herbig will wear number '51' for the Steelers. Traditionally, this number has been used far more often by inside linebackers (most recently worn by LB Myles Jack). However, the Steelers said they plan to play him on the edge as an outside linebacker.

Talented Purdue cornerback, Cory Trice Jr. will wear number '27' for Pittsburgh, and former Maryland OL Spencer Anderson will rock the number '74.

These numbers are subject to change if players are to be released from the roster and other numbers become available. However, these are the numbers we can expect the Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 draft class to be wearing when the season opens up in September.