Spring ball has wrapped up in Grand Forks, and UND head football coach Eric Schmidt has officially assigned the prestigious 7-0-1 jersey numbers for the 2026 season—a tradition that signals elite leadership and performance on the field.
Linebacker Mike Devereaux will take over the No. 7 jersey, while All-American edge rusher Lance Rucker retains his familiar No. 0. Returning starting quarterback Jerry Kaminski will now sport the No. 1, a number that carries significant weight in Schmidt's program.
Devereaux, a transfer from Old Dominion, previously wore No. 34 last season but has earned the promotion to No. 7 after a standout campaign. Kaminski, who donned No. 11 during his first year as the starter in 2025, moves into the coveted No. 1 spot.
"The 7, 0, and 1 are going to be the ones we feel we'll put a lot of onus on the guys who wear those," Schmidt explained when he first introduced the concept in 2025. "It'll mean something to wear those. It'll be guys who exemplify who we're about day in and day out with consistent leadership and work ethic—all the things I think go with being an elite football player and person."
Notably, offensive linemen are not eligible for these special numbers, keeping the focus on skill positions and defensive playmakers.
Last season's honorees included Malachi McNeal, Rucker, and Grand Forks native Sam Strandell—setting a high bar for the current recipients.
Devereaux heads into his senior season as a projected starter at linebacker after logging 65 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss in 2025. Rucker, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior, was a force off the edge, recording 15 tackles for loss and an eye-popping 11.5 sacks—breaking the school's single-season sack record. His signature moment came in a playoff win at Tennessee Tech, where he forced three fumbles on three sacks.
Kaminski, now a junior, seized the starting quarterback job during fall camp and delivered a breakout season. He threw 22 touchdowns against just two interceptions early on, shattering Danny Freund's single-season regular-season touchdown record. By season's end, Kaminski had 28 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
The Fighting Hawks finished 8-6 in 2025, falling to Tarleton State in the second round of the FCS playoffs. With these three leaders wearing the special numbers, the team looks poised to build on that momentum heading into 2026.