Report details whether DJ Pickett will continue to wear No. 5 at LSU amid drama with Jayden Daniels
The LSU Tigers are in an awkward situation with Jayden Daniels and sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett.
LSU is in an awkward situation with former Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels and sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett.
According to ESPN, Daniels has informed LSU that it can no longer use his name, image, and likeness due to the disrespect he feels over the team giving Pickett the No. 5 this season.
Pickett was apparently promised the number by someone at LSU when he was being recruited. Former Tigers head coach Brian Kelly, however, didn’t give Pickett the number last season because of Daniels.
“I just wasn’t prepared to do it until we got a full commitment from another Heisman Trophy winner,” said Kelly to ESPN. “We didn’t want to issue No. 9, so you can’t treat one differently from the other.”
Current LSU head coach Lane Kiffin reversed course and gave Picket the number for the 2026 season because of the recruiting promise.
“DJ is in [No.] 5, and that was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, for him to sign here,” said Kiffin earlier this month. “I’ve done a lot of research on that with the family and the representatives and the people, so really I didn’t have a decision to make. It was promised to the kid. It wasn’t done for whatever [reason]. I’m not going to get into that.
“I’m not going to judge something [that was done] when I wasn’t here. But when a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it. So at that point, I don’t think that’s really my decision. We should honor what he was told.”
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Pickett plans to continue to wear the number despite the drama with Daniels.
Nakos also reported that wearing No. 5 is in Pickett’s contract with LSU.
It’s unclear, though, if wearing No. 5 was in Pickett’s original contract with LSU or if it was added when he recommitted to LSU earlier this year.
If the number thing was in his original contract, then Kelly would’ve been forced to give it to him last season.
I get Pickett’s argument, and I understand Daniels’ frustration. Regardless of which side of the argument you’re on, you’ve gotta hope this gets resolved some way if you’re an LSU fan. The last thing anyone wants in Baton Rouge is a strained relationship between Daniels and LSU.
