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Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow both played quarterback at LSU. Both won a Heisman Trophy.
Burrow’s No. 9 has not been worn by a Tigers player since he left for the NFL after the 2019 season. Daniels’ No. 5 hadn’t been worn since he did the same in 2023, until sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett was issued the jersey when preseason workouts began a week ago.
Daniels isn’t pleased, informing LSU through his attorney that he “feels profoundly disrespected” and forbidding the school to use his name, image and likeness.
Pickett’s family isn’t happy either. Damien Pickett, DJ’s father, told Nola.com on Thursday that his son has worn No. 5 “his whole life” and has the number tattooed on his left arm.
“Honestly, man, this right here makes us want to wear the number more,” Damien said. “He’s been put in the middle of something that has nothing to do with him.”
A five-star recruit out of Florida Zephyrhills High, Pickett asked finalists LSU, Oregon, Miami and Georgia if he could wear No. 5. All four schools, his father said, agreed to the request.
Former TCU head coach Gary Patterson is putting his decades of coaching experience to the test as he spearheads USC’s efforts to revive its defense.
“If we would have been told during our recruiting process and they had said, ‘Hey, No. 5 is not being issued. We can’t promise you No. 5, but we can talk to Jayden and see what Jayden has to say. If he gives his blessing, he does. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t,’ [and we would have] moved forward,’” Damien said.
On Wednesday, Daniels made it clear that he isn’t giving his blessing.
“Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university,” a statement from Daniels’ spokesperson said.
Current and former LSU coaches have scrambled to explain how and why the awkward situation unfolded as it did.
Lane Kiffin, in his first year at LSU after leaving Mississippi, told reporters on Aug. 5 that Pickett had been promised the No. 5 when he signed with the Tigers before last season.
Then-coach Brian Kelly told ESPN he reneged on the promise because Daniels objected, but Kiffin sided with Pickett this summer.
