The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt junior linebacker Caleb Bacon will switch his jersey from No. 50 to No. 26 to honor former Cyclone football player Jack Whitver, who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor that was diagnosed earlier in 2024.
Whitver, a Grinnell, Iowa native, played under head coach Dan McCarney from 1999-2003 and was a two-time Academic All-American while playing for the Cyclones. After walking-on to the team, Whitver eventually worked his way into a receiving role, finishing with 96 career receptions for 1,320 yards and five touchdowns.
He was a member of Iowa State’s first team to win a bowl game, the 2000 Insight.com bowl champions, and played in two more bowl games in his career.
“The opportunity to wear Jack Whitver’s No. 26 jersey and recognize his contributions to our football program is an honor,” Bacon said. “He has had a significant impact on Iowa State, our state and our football program. His story of coming to Iowa State as a walk-on and achieving all he did is an inspiration, and I look forward to wearing No. 26 this season.”
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