DJ Pickett Retains No. 5 at LSU Despite NIL Dispute With Jayden Daniels

Sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett will continue wearing No. 5 for LSU after recording 37 tackles and three interceptions as a freshman All-American.

LSU sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett confirmed Thursday he will not vacate the No. 5 jersey, despite a legal challenge from 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Pickett, who recorded 37 tackles, three interceptions, and one sack across 524 defensive snaps during his 2025 freshman All-American season, began preseason practice last week wearing the disputed digit. The Washington Commanders quarterback, selected No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has through legal counsel informed Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry that the university may no longer utilize his name, image, and likeness as of an Aug. 5 letter.

Pickett previously wore No. 3 during the 2025 campaign but transitioned to No. 5 this summer, a number he has utilized since age 4. The Zephyrhills, Florida native was ranked as the No. 2 cornerback in the Class of 2025 by ESPN Recruiting. Current LSU head coach Lane Kiffin stated on Aug. 5 that the jersey number was a specific promise made to Pickett during his recruitment in December 2024. While Pickett’s agent, Brian Davis, declined to comment on the specific details of the player's NIL agreement, the athlete’s father, Damien Pickett, noted that the current coaching staff has remained in full support of his son throughout the public pushback.

Legal and NIL Implications at LSU

A statement from Daniels' spokesperson indicated the family feels "profoundly disrespected" by the decision to reissue the number so soon after his Heisman-winning season. The dispute escalated when Daniels’ attorney sent the formal Aug. 5 notice to Ausberry, effectively halting the school's right to use the quarterback's NIL. This marks the first time since Daniels’ departure that a player has been permitted to wear No. 5. Although the jersey has not been officially retired, the Daniels family expressed they had every reason to believe the number would be protected to honor his contributions to the program.

Former LSU coach Brian Kelly, who was fired on Oct. 26, 2025, after posting a 34-14 record over four seasons, admitted on Wednesday that he had initially withheld the number from Pickett. Kelly explained he was hesitant to issue the jersey without a "full commitment from another Heisman Trophy winner," drawing a parallel to Joe Burrow’s No. 9. That specific jersey has remained unissued since Burrow led the Tigers to a 15-0 record and a national championship in 2019. Kelly noted that Daniels was not in agreement with Pickett wearing the number during the initial recruitment phase.

Lane Kiffin and Coaching Decisions

Lane Kiffin emphasized that his decision to allow Pickett to wear No. 5 was based on honoring the original recruitment terms. Kiffin told reporters he conducted research with the family and representatives, concluding that the promise made to the athlete should be upheld regardless of his own arrival time at the school. Damien Pickett expressed frustration with the previous staff, suggesting that if the restriction on No. 5 had been communicated transparently during the signing process, the current conflict could have been avoided. He clarified that his son’s desire to wear the number has only increased due to the surrounding controversy.

LSU Jersey Retirement History

LSU policy dictates that only the No. 20 jersey, worn by 1959 Heisman winner Billy Cannon, is permanently ineligible for use by future football players. The university has retired four other jerseys: Tommy Casanova (No. 37), Jerry Stovall (No. 21), Charles Alexander (No. 4), and has scheduled the retirement of Bert Jones’ No. 7 for Nov. 14. Jayden Daniels, who spent three seasons at Arizona State before his two-year tenure at LSU, posted to Instagram that his personal focus remains on Commanders’ football and training camp. He expressed hope that the issues between his representatives and the LSU athletic department would be resolved privately.