De’Zhaun Stribling may have switched his jersey number at the wrong time.
The 49ers rookie is set to wear No. 7 for the upcoming season, which is the same jersey number that fraudster Daejon Love claimed to have.
Love was arrested on Aug. 24 after posing as a 49ers player to allegedly swindle cash from multiple women through an extensive romance and investment scam. There are 26 reported victims that Love allegedly stole more than $1.3 million from.
The scam has emerged as another viral meme for the 49ers amid a tumultuous offseason. San Francisco has endured a summer that has featured the horrific car accident of head coach Kyle Shanahan, multiple injuries throughout training camp, the arrest of owner Jed York, and most recently, Love’s fraudulent scam.
Stribling, however, has been one of the bright spots for the 49ers. The rookie turned heads in the preseason, posting the highest offensive grade among rookie receivers (90.0).
The Ole Miss product is expected to play a key role for the 49ers this season, especially because of Ricky Pearsall’s absence from the wide receiver corps. Stribling even received high praise from star players, including Brock Purdy and Trent Williams.
The rookie didn’t play in the 49ers’ final preseason game, but recorded 109 receiving yards on 11 receptions in his first two games. San Francisco evidently expects great things from Stribling, regardless of his jersey number.
