A college football player changed to the No. 8 in the playoffs to pay homage to Bryant and his name was Coby Bryant

On December 29, Beijing time, according to the US media "uproxx", The University of Cincinnati Binturong (football) full-back Coby Bryant decided that he changed the jersey number from No. 7 to No. 8 in the playoffs to commemorate the late former Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

College student Kobe Bryant

Bryant and his second daughter, Gianna, among others, were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Now, a college athlete from the University of Cincinnati is doing everything he can to pay tribute to the late basketball superstar.

"There's a reason I'm named after him," said Bryant, who is considered one of the best defensive defenders in college football and is the winner of the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award. "The mamba spirit is the spirit that I have persevered to the present."

In the weeks leading up to the start of the college football playoffs, Bryant was working on an application to change the jersey number from 7 to 8. "I just did everything I could to represent him," Bryant said, "and the best thing to do is to put on number 8." ”

Bryant has always admired Kobe Bryant and looked forward to meeting Kobe One day, but unfortunately this dream has not been realized. This isn't the first time Bryant has worn Kobe Bryant's jersey number, he also wore the number 24 shirt as a kid.

"It's a blessing to wear a number 8," Bryant said, "and I thank Coach Luke Ficker for allowing me to wear that number, and I've made him understand why I'm doing it." ”

Bryant said his communication with Fikel was "very smooth" in the matter of applying for a change of number, and said Fikel was "happy for him."

The Binturong will play the playoff semifinals at home against the University of Alabama on January 1, 2022.