I was today years old when I learned that Jared "J.J." Weaver, a fifth-year college football player for the Kentucky Wildcats, has six fingers on his right hand.
While that's certainly a medical anomaly, Weaver and his mothers, thanks to NIL, were able to strike a deal with Nike, and now he has six-finger gloves known as the "Perfect Fit."
J.J. Weaver is making an impact on and off the field ? @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/euAXtmMlPf
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 19, 2023
"With Nike, me and my mom, we sat down, and we talked about, something about my hand, because I used to put like, two pinkies in one glove, you know," he told SEC Network at SEC Media Days. "So me and my mom ended up contacting Nike, we ended up making a name for it called, 'A Perfect Fit,' because it's a perfect fit for my hand, for the gloves. So they made me an extra six-fingered glove."
Sadly, Weaver was picked on as a kid because of this, and he says he's reaching out to kids in a similar situation to help them feel better about it.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
"When I was younger, I used to get picked on a lot, being different," he said. "People didn't see this (kind of thing) growing up. Plus, we were kids. Kids were ugly, making fun and stuff like that.
"When I grew up and got bigger than everyone else, they couldn't make fun of me no more.
"Started playing football. Got into it. Loved it. Then went to the University of Kentucky, they helped me and that's when I started expressing myself. I went to an elementary school, craziest thing ever, two kids had six fingers. They never seen me — a football player, have six fingers. I blew up ever since then.
"I end up talking to kids now, for my platform I do. My logo is, 'A Perfect Fit,' that's what I call myself going around, and I've been helping the community out."
According to the Courier Journal, Weaver is holding a bicycle drive this month through his foundation, "The Perfect Fit."
Weaver, an outside linebacker/pass rusher, has been with the Wildcats since 2019. He's played in 35 college football games, including 11 in 2022 and 12 in 2021. Over his college career, he's racked up 120 total tackles, 10 sacks, and two interceptions. He's been a critical part of the Wildcats defense over the past two years, including his captainship last season.
