The jersey retiring history at UF

by OrangeBlueGray , NYC, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 17:55 (73 days ago) @ OrangeBlueGray

Steve Spurrier announced that he has un-retired his number along with linebacker Scott Brantley’s No. 55, which had been retired during the 1979 season. Outside linebacker Ben Hanks, a promising redshirt sophomore from Miami, will wear Spurrier’s old number.

Spurrier said he has never liked retiring numbers: “There have been so many great players here that it’s not fair to pick one over the other.” Hanks approached Spurrier about changing from 13 to 11 in the spring, not realizing that Spurrier had worn 11.

Spurrier met with school officials about reinstating the number. He then called Brantley, the only other UF player to have a number retired, and asked if Brantley would like see a No. 55 back on the field. Brantley said sure. So Spurrier made Hanks 11.

“I’m happy to see him wearing the number,” Spurrier said. “Ben Hanks has been a model citizen since he’s been at Florida.”