Landon Collins Will Wear Sean Taylor’s Number for New York Giants

Former Alabama safety Landon Collins will wear the same number his idol wore in the NFL when he takes the field for the New York Giants this fall.

The 33rd overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft tweeted out a picture of his new jersey.

The number had previously been worn by defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie during the 2014 season, but Collins must have worked out an exchange with his teammate.

The rookie has modeled his game after the late Sean Taylor for his entire, who was one of the hardest-hitting safeties in football before his death in 2007. Collins wore #26 at Alabama just as Taylor did in college at Miami and now he'll wear the professional number.

"I idolized Sean Taylor for his physical play, his passion for the game, you could see it every time he touched the field," Collins said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

The Giants opened rookie mini camp earlier this month and the reviews on the safety have already been positive.