At USC, Su’a Cravens floated between outside linebacker and safety. The Redskins, who drafted Cravens in the second round of last week’s NFL Draft, have listed him as a safety, giving the 20-year-old a chance to follow in the footsteps of one of his favorite players growing up.
Cravens wore No. 21 while in college in part because that’s the uniform number Sean Taylor wore with the Redskins. No member of the team has worn that number since Taylor’s life was tragically cut short due to injuries from being shot by intruders into his home and Cravens would like to keep it that way.
Hey @redskins fans…what number do you think I should wear? Out of pure respect 21 shouldn't even be a thought!!! #HTTR
— Su'a Cravens (@Sua_Cravens) May 1, 2016
However, as a rookie, Taylor wore No. 36. Now, Cravens will as well.
It's official @Redskins fans! Challenge accepted! #HTTR pic.twitter.com/lmRYGLOp8j
— Su'a Cravens (@Sua_Cravens) May 1, 2016
Taylor turned out to be one of the premier safeties in the NFL and established a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the league on the way to two Pro Bowl nods. As Cravens said on Friday, he realizes Taylor’s shoes are big ones to fill.
“He’s definitely my all-time favorite safety, and those are big shoes to fill,” Cravens said via the Redskins’ official site. “So when I come into Washington, I’m ready to play and hopefully I can be half as good as that man.”
If Cravens develops into half the player Taylor was, the Redskins will feel awfully good about their selection and Cravens would have carved out a pretty good career for himself.
H/T Eye On Football
