San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling has drawn attention for his jersey number choice ahead of the upcoming season. Stribling has switched from No. 15 to No. 7, the same number claimed by Daejon Love, a man arrested in August for allegedly running an extensive romance and investment scam. Love is accused of defrauding multiple women out of more than $1.3 million.
The timing of Stribling’s jersey number change has coincided with a tumultuous offseason for the 49ers, which has included a car accident involving head coach Kyle Shanahan, multiple player injuries, the arrest of owner Jed York, and now Love’s alleged fraudulent activities.
Despite the online commentary surrounding his number, Stribling has been a standout performer for the team. The rookie wide receiver impressed during the preseason, earning the highest offensive grade among rookie receivers at 90.0. He recorded 109 receiving yards on 11 receptions across his first two preseason games and is expected to play a significant role in the wide receiver corps, particularly with Ricky Pearsall’s absence.
Stribling's performance has earned praise from veteran players such as Brock Purdy and Trent Williams, indicating that the team has high expectations for the rookie, irrespective of his jersey number.
Love was arrested on August 24, facing charges of wire fraud. The alleged scam involved Love posing as a 49ers player to solicit money from women. Reports indicate that there are 26 alleged victims in the case. A second individual, Taylor Jamie Chan, was also arrested and charged in connection with the scheme. The pair are accused of wire fraud in Portland.