New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas impressed during his rookie season, and people are excited to see him back on the field for his second year in the league.
However, for this season, Douglas will have a new number on the back of his jersey.
The receiver announced on Instagram that he is switching from No. 81 to No. 3. That was previously held by Mack Wilson, but the linebacker signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent this offseason.
And Wilson was more than happy to pass the torch to his former teammate.
"3 in good hands ❤️," Wilson wrote on Instagram.
The switch to No. 3 is special for Douglas, having worn it while at Liberty. And with Wilson now gone, it seems Douglas didn't hesitate to swoop in and grab it.
Douglas spent all four of his collegiate seasons with Liberty, finishing the 2022 season with 79 receptions for 933 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He also had five carries for 105 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
The Patriots kept an eye on the young receiver, and when the sixth round rolled around, they decided to draft him with the 210th overall pick last year.
Douglas made an impact immediately in training camp and earned a spot on the 53-man roster. While he had a few bumps along the way, the rookie showed promise and continued to be a bright spot in an otherwise dull season.
Douglas finished his rookie season with 49 receptions for 561 yards. However, he was unable to find his way into the end zone.
But now that he's wearing No. 3, maybe he'll find his way to the end zone this coming season.
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