Braelin Moore came to LSU looking for an opportunity to anchor the Tigers’ offensive line. Less than two years later, the veteran center has received one of the highest honors in the program.
Moore has been selected as LSU’s No. 18 for the 2026 season, joining a tradition that began with national championship quarterback Matt Mauck and has come to represent leadership, toughness, selflessness and excellence on and off the field.
Because NCAA numbering rules prevent an offensive lineman from actually playing center in No. 18, Moore will continue wearing No. 61 and carry a No. 18 patch on his jersey. He becomes just the second LSU offensive lineman to receive the honor, following Lloyd Cushenberry III in 2019. He is also the second transfer to earn No. 18, following Mekhi Wingo in 2023.
So who is Braelin Moore, and how did he get here?
From Bethlehem to Blacksburg
Moore grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and attended Freedom High School. He played on both sides of the line, lining up at guard on offense and defensive end on defense.
As a senior in 2021, Moore helped Freedom finish 12 and 3. He recorded 10 sacks and was ranked as the No. 19 high school prospect in Pennsylvania.
Football also ran in the family. His older brother, Kaden Moore, played offensive line at Virginia Tech. Braelin followed him to Blacksburg, and the brothers eventually spent two seasons together on the Hokies offensive line.
Moore appeared in four games during his first college season in 2022 before becoming a full time starter in 2023.
Becoming a Starter at Virginia Tech
Moore established himself at left guard during the 2023 season, starting 12 games.
Virginia Tech finished 7 and 6 and closed the season by beating Tulane in the Military Bowl. The Hokies rushed for a school bowl record 362 yards in that victory. Moore was also named to the 2023 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
Virginia Tech moved him to center in 2024.
The position change proved important to his career. Moore started all 12 regular season games at center and helped the Hokies average 178.4 rushing yards per game. LSU credits him with 754 offensive snaps and only three sacks allowed during the season. Virginia Tech’s own biography lists 741 snaps, so the two schools differ slightly on the snap total, but both agree that he started 12 games and surrendered only three sacks.
By the end of 2024, Moore had started 24 consecutive games for Virginia Tech.
Then LSU came calling.
Coming to LSU
Moore transferred to LSU following the 2024 season as the Tigers rebuilt an offensive line that had lost several experienced starters.
He brought something LSU badly needed: experience.
Moore had already spent two full seasons as a Power Four starter and had experience at both guard and center. He stepped into LSU’s lineup immediately and became the Tigers’ starting center in 2025.
His LSU debut could hardly have gone better.
Moore played all 75 offensive snaps as LSU went on the road and defeated Clemson 17 to 10. His performance earned him SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.
It was an impressive beginning, but his first season in Baton Rouge soon became a test of toughness.
Playing Through Injury
Moore injured his ankle on the first offensive play of LSU’s home opener against Louisiana Tech.
He returned the following week.
Moore played all 55 offensive snaps against Florida and continued working through the season. He eventually started 12 games and played 623 offensive snaps for LSU.
According to LSU, Moore allowed only one sack all season. He played every offensive snap in eight games. His only missed start came against Oklahoma, and he returned to the lineup for LSU’s Texas Bowl game against Houston.
Those numbers brought his college career totals to 40 appearances, 36 starts and 2,045 offensive snaps. LSU credits 1,395 of those snaps at center and only four sacks allowed during his college career.
Moore also earned a place on the 2025 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Back for One More Season
Instead of leaving LSU after the 2025 season, Moore elected to return for his fifth and final college season.
That decision gave LSU an experienced veteran in the middle of its offensive line as the program transitioned to Lane Kiffin.
LSU lists Moore at 6 foot 2 and 300 pounds on his individual biography. The current roster table lists him at 301 pounds. More importantly, he enters 2026 having started at the Power Four level for three consecutive seasons.
He has started at both left guard and center. He has played more than 2,000 college snaps. He has played through injury. He has earned academic honors in both the ACC and SEC.
Now his LSU teammates and coaches have entrusted him with something bigger than a starting job.
They have entrusted him with No. 18.
What No. 18 Means at LSU
LSU’s modern No. 18 tradition traces to Matt Mauck, who wore the number while leading LSU to the 2003 national championship. Mauck passed the number to running back Jacob Hester, who became one of the program’s most respected leaders and helped LSU win another national championship in 2007.
From there, No. 18 became much more than a jersey number.
LSU has described it as representing success on and off the field, selflessness and the qualities that epitomize an LSU football player. During Brian Kelly’s tenure, LSU emphasized attention to detail, focus, attitude, intelligence and grit as traits associated with the honor.
The number is not necessarily awarded to LSU’s biggest star.
It is awarded to someone trusted to represent the program.
That makes Moore’s selection particularly meaningful.
Following Lloyd Cushenberry
There is also some history involved in giving No. 18 to a center.
Lloyd Cushenberry III became the first offensive lineman selected for No. 18 in 2019. Because offensive linemen cannot wear No. 18 under college football numbering rules, Cushenberry continued wearing No. 79 and carried a No. 18 patch.
That season ended with LSU winning the national championship.
Moore will follow the same format in 2026. He will remain No. 61 while wearing the No. 18 patch.
No pressure, Braelin.
LSU’s No. 18s Since Matt Mauck
The modern tradition began with Mauck. These are the players LSU has selected for the honor since that national championship season:
- 2003: Matt Mauck, quarterback
- 2004 to 2007: Jacob Hester, running back
- 2008 to 2009: Richard Dickson, tight end
- 2010: Richard Murphy, running back
- 2011: Brandon Taylor, safety
- 2012: Bennie Logan, defensive tackle
- 2013: Lamin Barrow, linebacker
- 2014: Terrence Magee, running back
- 2015 to 2016: Tre’Davious White, cornerback
- 2017: Christian LaCouture, defensive line
- 2017: John David Moore, tight end
- 2018: Foster Moreau, tight end
- 2019: K’Lavon Chaisson, outside linebacker
- 2019: Lloyd Cushenberry III, center
- 2020: Chris Curry, running back
- 2020 to 2021: Damone Clark, linebacker
- 2021: Avery Atkins, placekicker
- 2022: BJ Ojulari, defensive end
- 2023: Mekhi Wingo, defensive tackle
- 2024: Greg Penn III, linebacker
- 2024: Josh Williams, running back
- 2025: Garrett Nussmeier, quarterback
- 2026: Braelin Moore, center
LSU’s historical records confirm the lineage through the earlier years, while Moore’s selection was announced Wednesday.
More Than a Transfer
Moore’s path makes his selection stand out.
He did not grow up in Louisiana. He did not sign with LSU out of high school. He spent three seasons at Virginia Tech before arriving in Baton Rouge.
But No. 18 is not supposed to be a lifetime achievement award.
It is supposed to say something about the player wearing it now.
In one season at LSU, Moore started 12 games, fought through an ankle injury, allowed only one sack, earned SEC academic recognition and then chose to return for another year.
He arrived as a transfer LSU needed to help rebuild its offensive line.
He enters 2026 as one of the players LSU trusts to represent the entire program.
Braelin Moore is LSU’s newest No. 18.
And for a center, the number will not be across his chest.
It will be a patch representing something much bigger.
Sources
LSU Athletics, Braelin Moore official biography
https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/braelin-moore
LSU Athletics, LSU Continues Transfer Haul with Lineman Moore
https://lsusports.net/news/2024/12/21/lsu-continues-transfer-haul-with-lineman-moore
LSU Athletics, Cushenberry III and Chaisson Awarded No. 18
https://lsusports.net/news/2019/08/01/211808181
LSU Athletics, BJ Ojulari Awarded Football’s No. 18 Jersey
https://lsusports.net/news/2022/08/06/bj-ojulari-awarded-no-18-jersey
LSU Athletics, Wingo to Wear No. 18
https://lsusports.net/news/2023/08/26/wing-to-wear-no-18-campbell-award-no-7-for-football
Virginia Tech Athletics, Braelin Moore biography
https://hokiesports.com/sports/football/roster/player/braelin-moore
LouisianaSports.net, Braelin Moore Named No. 18 for 2026
https://www.louisianasports.net/2026/08/26/braelin-moore-named-no-18-for-2026/lsu-sports/
LSU Football Report 