When the Los Angeles Rams acquired All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this offseason, he was able to keep his longtime No. 22 jersey after working out a deal with backup running back Blake Corum.
Corum was eager to give it up so he could switch to No. 24, which is what he originally wanted to wear with the Rams as a way to honor his father and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“So there’s a great meaning behind it,” Corum explained to theRams.com. “My dad (James) wore that his whole life through middle school, high school, (he) didn’t get the chance to go to college, but my dad’s poured everything into me and my sisters, and really just our family in general. And so in 2006 I started playing football, and it’s crazy. I played for the FYF Rams, and I wore 24, and I was 24 my whole life, whether it be baseball, basketball, football, you name it, I was 24.
“And then when I got to Michigan, 24 was taken by Zach Charbonnet before he transferred, and so that’s why I wore number 2. And then when I got to the Rams, I asked for 2 or 24, and both were taken at the time, so I wore 22. But it’s to honor my dad. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me in my life, getting me to where I am, and the man I am, and so it’s really just to honor him. And then one of my favorite athletes of all time is Kobe Bryant, and I know he wore 8 and 24, but when I watched him, it was 24.”
When Corum was first drafted by the Rams, he asked for No. 2 or 24. However, Russ Yeast wore No. 2 and Darious Williams had No. 24, Corum settled for 22.
With both of those players now off the team, Corum felt it was the perfect opportunity to switch to the number he wanted all along.
Corum wore the No. 24 in high school and for the early part of his career at the University of Michigan. The number not only holds significance to him because of his father, but also because Bryant — his favorite athlete of all-time — wore it for the latter part of his stint with the Lakers.
Now with a familiar number on the back of his jersey, Corum will look to build off a career year with the Rams and continue being a big part of the offense.
Trent McDuffie has ‘loved’ being with Rams
McDuffie has only been with the Rams for a few months, but has enjoyed every second of his time with the franchise so far.
“I’ve loved it here,” McDuffie said after Monday’s OTA. “I always talk to my fiancée (about) just the energy and the vibe that this place has each morning. I’m in the building at 7:00 AM and right away bro, I’m smiling. People are saying ‘good morning,’ people are just happy to be here back in L.A. So I’ve really enjoyed it these past few months.”
