Rutgers to retire Eric LeGrand's No. 52 jersey this September

Rutgers will retire Eric LeGrand's No. 52 jersey. (AP) By Zac Ellis The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will retire Eric LeGrand's No. 52 football jersey this season,

Rutgers will retire Eric LeGrand's No. 52 jersey. (AP)

By Zac Ellis

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will retire Eric LeGrand's No. 52 football jersey this season, the school announced on Tuesday.

According to Jason Baum, Rutgers' senior associate athletic director for communications, LeGrand's jersey will be retired during a ceremony at halftime of the Knights' Sept. 14 game against Eastern Michigan. Rutgers, which began playing college football in 1869, has never retired a football player's jersey until now.

The story gets even cooler, though: Tom Luicci of the Newark Star-Ledger reported that Rutgers will un-retire the number once LeGrand is able to walk again, and will then use the number for special purposes.

LeGrand, a former Rutgers defensive tackle, was paralyzed while making a tackle on a kick return in the Scarlet Knights' game against Army on Oct. 16, 2010. He has since become a model of perseverance and positivity for those battling similar challenges.

LeGrand took to Twitter to express his appreciation for Rutgers' decision.