Oak Ridge’s Tee Higgins (5), who was then a senior, talks to a television reporter after a 56-21 rout at Clinton on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Higgins had two touchdown receptions and two interceptions that set up Wildcat scores in that game. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was updated at 9:45 p.m. Jan. 26.
Oak Ridge will retire the number 5 football jersey of Tee Higgins, a star football and basketball player who now plays as a wide receiver for the Clemson Tigers and caught a touchdown pass in the national championship win over Alabama on January 7.
Higgins’ football jersey will be retired during halftime of the Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ basketball game against Campbell County at Wildcat Arena on Friday, February 1, Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald said. That game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
“Congratulate our hometown hero on his national championship and watch as his #5 becomes only the third number to be retired in our 76-year school history,” McDonald said in a post published on Twitter.
The retirement of Higgins’ jersey means the number will not be able to be used by another Oak Ridge Wildcats football player.
McDonald said the only other two numbers that have been retired belonged to Jackie Pope and Shawn Summers.
That Friday will be Tee Higgins Day at Oak Ridge High School.
Tickets for the Friday night game will be reduced to $5 in honor of Tee’s number.
“We encourage all fans and the Wildcat faithful to join us for the event,” a school press release said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Oak Ridge’s Tee Higgins (5), who was then a junior, makes a catch during a 26-17 loss at Ooltewah in a second-round Class 5A playoff game on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. (File photo by Julio Culiat)
Oak Ridge wide receiver Tee Higgins (5), who was then a senior, catches a 17-yard pass from quarterback Johnny Stewart, who was then a junior, before falling backward into the end zone for a touchdown near the left pylon, putting the Wildcats ahead of the Clinton Dragons 42-7 with 2:57 left in the first half at Clinton on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Higgins is defended here on his second TD catch by Clinton senior J’Quan Thomas (5). (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Tee Higgins (5) also played basketball for Oak Ridge. In his senior season here, he had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (File photo by Kindell Moore)
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