LSU football coach Lane Kiffin said he is standing by his initial stance on allowing cornerback D.J. Pickett to don the No. 5 jersey previously worn by 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels — even in the face of objections and legal threats from the former Tigers quarterback.
“I commented a week ago on that,” Kiffin, who is preparing for his first season at LSU, said after practice Thursday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “That’s the comment that I had, and we’re moving forward.”
LSU’s official online store has removed replica Daniels jerseys from the menu of those for sale, which include the No. 9 of 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, who quarterbacked the team to that’s season College Football Playoff national championship, and the No. 3 of former star receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Meanwhile, Pickett showed no interest in relinquishing the No. 5 when he spoke with reporters after Thursday’s practice.
“I’ve been wearing the number my whole life, since I was 4 years old,” Pickett said. “That was the number I was promised. I wish Jayden the best. Good player — he did real good here.”