Incoming Transfer WR Oran Singleton Receives #2 Jersey Honor
The tradition lives on, with a new wrinkle.
Eastern Michigan’s emotional tradition of honoring a player with the #2 jersey assignment continues on. This year, incoming wide receiver Oran Singleton will be the team’s recipient of ‘The Deuce’ uniform.
The significance of the #2 jersey dates back to Oct. 18, 2013 when former EMU wide receiver and Chicago native Demarius Reed died tragically at his apartment. Reed’s jersey would soon after be buried underneath the then-newly-installed gray turf at Rynearson Stadium, and is still there today underneath the updated playing surface.
In 2017, with the Reed family’s blessings, the #2 uniform assignment finally came back for EMU players, but not without earning ‘The Deuce’.
In 2017, Sergio Bailey II was the first to be honored with the new tradition. Blake Banham wore it in 2018, Mathew Sexton in 2019, followed by tight ends Thomas Odukoya (2020) and Bryson Cannon (2021), Hassan Beydoun (2022), and Tanner Knue (2023).
Of the former Deuce honorees, three are former walk-ons, Sexton had just the one EMU offer out of Clinton, Mich., and three were former junior college transfers (moreover, Odukoya played in the Netherlands before he came to the U.S.).
The tradition of ‘The Deuce’ started with the wide captains at wide receiver, then made a include tight ends for a couple of years. Everybody that’s received the #2 honor before has at least been on the field for a season before receiving the single-digit option. Singleton, though, is the first first-year player to be part of that change.
Singleton, a first-year transfer from the junior college ranks (Hutchinson C.C.) is also a MAC-level bounceback from Akron. Singleton, from Clewiston, Fla., was listed as #24 on the roster, but depending how early in the offseason you might’ve read the roster’s notes (or if you’re reading a Phil Steele magazine), you might also recall seeing a #92 uniform assignment next to Singleton’s name.
Last year, Singleton caught 31 passes for 419 yards (13.5 avg.) with 7 touchdowns with his JUCO program. He also fielded three punts for 26 yards. In 2021 as a true freshman at Akron, Singleton started once in nine games played, caught 11 passes for 112 yards, and scored 1 TD.
Singleton is currently listed as EMU’s starting slot receiver and leading candidate punt return man.
Uniform Changes for 2024
Offense
#1 WR J.B. Mitchell, from #17 (last worn by Hamze El-Zayat)
#2 WR Oran Singleton (last worn by Tanner Knue)
#3 WR Terry Lockett Jr., from #11 (last worn by Ike Udengwu III)
#4 WR Makhail Wood, from #9 (last worn by Austin Smith)
#6 WR Zyell Griffin (last worn by Christopher Kaminski in 2021)
#7 WR Jamarien Wheeler (last worn by Von Swinton)
#8 WR Markus Allen (last worn by Cam’Ron McCoy)
#9 WR Porter Rooks (last worn by Makhail Wood)
#10 QB Jeremiah Salem, from #15 (last worn by Preston Hutchinson in 2021)
#12 QB Jace Stuckey (last worn by Dontae McMillan)
#13 QB Drew Viotto (last worn by Jamarien Wheeler)
#15 QB Cole Snyder (last worn by Jeremiah Salem)
#16 QB Jackson Holt (last worn by Kaiden Keefe in 2022)
#22 RB JT Bronaugh (last worn by Samson Evans)
#26 WR Antonio Floyd (last worn by Tyron Bates)
#27 RB Jayvin Norman (last worn by Darius Boone in 2022)
#28 RB Dontae McMillan, from #12 (last worn by Jaylon Jackson)
#34 RB Delbert Mimms III (last worn by Samson Evans in 2020)
#54 OL Blake Bustard (last worn by Zack Conti)
#59 OL Jack Storey (last worn by Daniel Greene in 2021)
#68 OL Nicholas Suthery (last worn by Alex Howie)
#77 OL Dodji Dahoue (last worn by Brian Dooley)
#79 OL Everett Small (last worn by Jimi McAdams IV in 2022)
#82 TE Hans Lillis (last worn by Cedric Anton)
#84 TE Caden Vanderbush (last worn by C.J. Horton)
#86 Dalin Wilkins (last worn by Joseph Walker Jr.)
#89 Carson Wilson (last worn by Cole Rusk in 2022)
Defense + Special teams
#5 DE Justin Jefferson, from #47 (last worn by Korey Hernandez)
#6 DB Bryce Llewellyn (last worn by Chase Kline)
#7 DB Dramarian McNulty (last worn by Londyn Craft)
#8 S David Carter Jr., from #27 (last worn by T.J. Peavy)
#9 DT Peyton Price, from #94 (last worn by Jarrett Paul in 2021)
#10 LB Zion Fonua (last worn by Josh McCarty)
#11 LB Zach Mowchan, from #36 (last worn by Mikah Coleman)
#14 DB Jaden Price (last worn by Keylen Gulley)
#15 DB Jordan Toney (last worn by Joshua Scott in 2022)
#16 DB Caleb Turner (last worn by Cameron Smith)
#17 DB Caleb Dobbs (last worn by Bennett Walker)
#20 LB Luke Murphy (last worn by Elijah Williams in 2022)
#21 LB J.T. Killen (last worn by Robert Daniel Jr. in 2022)
#22 DB Tyrelle Deemer (last worn by Cameron Smith in 2021)
#23 DB Elision Lovett (last worn by Blake Bogan in 2022)
#24 DB Jaylyn Monds (last worn by Thomas Shorack in 2021)
#25 DB Dylan Camp (last worn by Jalen Weathers)
#26 DB Soloman Bell, from #89 (last worn by Tristen Hines)
#27 LB Cole McElvany, from #43 (last worn by David Carter Jr.)
#29 DB Emil Burton (last worn by Kempton Shine)
#34 DB Ray Hester (last worn by Jack Goodman in 2022)
#36 LB Colin Main (last worn by Zach Mowchan)
#37 Jay King (last worn by Kymani Brown in 2019)
#39 P Daniel Hull (last worn by Adam Heston in 2022)
#41 LB Terrelle Elmore (last worn by James Doerer)
#44 LB Marvell Eggleston (last worn by Luke Cameron)
#46 K Rudy Kessinger (last worn by Steve Bird)
#52 DL Javon Thomas (last worn by Ke’Vion Wellington)
#55 LB James Djonkam (last worn by Jose Ramirez in 2021)
#64 DL Noah Patterson (last worn by Jaavon Brown in 2022)
#85 DL Jefferson Adam (first defensive #85 in Creighton era)
#90 DT Malik Tullis, from #91 (last worn by Adrian Gonzalez)
#91 DT Reggie Gardner (last worn by Malik Tullis)
#92 DT Dylan Shelton (last worn by Alex Merritt; once worn by Maxx Crosby)
#93 DT Tyrell Martin (last worn by Ugo Noiske)
#94 DT Jason Borbitzer (last worn by Peyton Price)
#97 DE Trey Laing (last worn by Mikey Haney)
#98 DT Donovan Greene (last worn by Tim Grant-Randall)