Matthew Glenesk

matthew.glenesk@indystar.com

It looks like Paul George will be changing his jersey number after all.

The Star's Matthew Glenesk thought as much by decoding some of the Pacers star's tweets and on Monday, ESPN Business reporter Darren Rovell confirmed George will change his number from 24 to 13.

Fans won't see George in his new No. 13 for a while however, following his severe injury suffered while with Team USA. Here's what ESPN has on the jersey switch:

"Before the deadline in the first week of March, George applied for and was granted the right to switch from No. 24 to No. 13, sources told ESPN.com. Per league rules for a player who changes jersey numbers on the same team, George will have to buy up all remaining No. 24s from the marketplace."

JULY 25 UPDATE:

According to the NBA, if a player hasn't switched teams and wants to change his jersey number, that player/team have to apply for a number change by the deadline prior to the season. For the 2014/15 season, that deadline was March 7, 2014.

So if Paul George actually plans on changing numbers, he would have already had to submit a request. Neither the Pacers or the NBA would confirm or deny if George has done so.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED:

A lot has been made about which jersey number LeBron James will choose in his return to Cleveland: the 23 we wore earlier in his career with the Cavs or the 6 he wore in Miami?

Well, King James might not be the only NBA star changing his number this offseason.

Depending on how you decode some tweets from Pacers star Paul George, it appears, at least to conspiracy theorists, that George is considering a switch from his traditional 24 to 13.

On Wednesday, George tweeted: "Got something in store for y'all in a couple weeks Indy!"

OK, benign enough, but this morning, for the fourth time in three days, George tweeted: "#Trece"

For those non-Spanish speakers, trece is 13 in Espanol.

Now maybe George keeps scoring 13 goals in 'FIFA14' or perhaps there's some new energy drink or music group I don't know about, but a change could be a smart business move for a player already enjoying endorsements with Papa John's and Gatorade.

A switch to 13 would allow George to be called PG-13, an idea that Jimmy Kimmel ran by him in January. (Fast forward to the 3:50 mark.)

Kimmel: My friend Bill Simmons would like you to change to 13, so you can be PG-13.

George: That's not bad.

Kimmel: Is that a consideration?

George: That's not bad, That got a ring to it, PG-13.

Kimmel: Do you have to go through a process to change a name?

George: I think I have to send out sorry letters to everyone who just bought their 24 jerseys.

PG-13 does have a nice ring to it, though it usually means there's a little less blood and profanity, and some Pacers fans may be hoping George's game is R-rated -- with more of that killer instinct.

Changing numbers isn't new for NBA stars. I've already mentioned LeBron, but he changed teams, so it's a bit different. But Kobe Bryant traded in his No. 8 for his current 24. So why can't George do it?

Now remember, this is just a theory. Don't go out and start ordering customized 13 George jerseys and then ask us for a refund.

'MERICA

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and IndyCar's Graham Rahal spent the day Wednesday in Edinburgh with the National Guard, which sponsors both drivers' rides. Rahal posted an Instagram video of Earnhardt firing off a M119 Howitzer.

A NASCAR driver firing off artillery, is there nothing more 'Merica than that?

The video's caption read: "Yesterday was the experience of a lifetime. Spending time with the @nationalguard soldiers is something I will never forget. Here's @DaleJr firing off the M119 Howitzer. Pretty damn impressive!"

COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S TOP 100 PLAYERS

Sports On Earth released its rankings of the top 100 players in college football.

No players from Indiana, Purdue or Ball State made the list, though an argument can be made for Hoosiers RB Tevin Coleman, who was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.

Here are some notable inclusions with Indiana ties:

Notre Dame linebacker and former IndyStar Mr. Football Jaylon Smith (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) is ranked 77th.

Smith lived up to the hype as a five-star recruit as a freshman, finishing third on the Fighting Irish with 67 tackles. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder has great athleticism and a reputation for tremendous instincts for a young player.

Former Hamilton Southeastern standout Randy Gregory, who stars at defensive end for Nebraska, cracked the top 10 at No. 9.

It's hard to find a more explosive athlete playing defensive line. As a juco transfer, Gregory somewhat unexpectedly burst onto the scene as a near-instant star last season, leading the Big Ten with 9 ½ sacks. Despite playing end, he finished third on the Cornhuskers' defense with 65 tackles. While somewhat undersized, he's one of the top candidates to leave for the NFL after his junior season. He's the rare pass rusher who can truly make plays anywhere on the field, and he'll wreak havoc on a Big Ten West division that lacks top quarterbacks.

This whole web thing is a collaborative endeavor, so please if you see something interesting, drop me a line at matthew.glenesk@indystar.com or on Twitter at @MattGlenesk.