LSU橄榄球教练Lane Kiffin坚持维护角卫D.J. Pickett穿着5号球衣的权利，尽管该号码曾被2023年海斯曼奖得主、前LSU四分卫Jayden Daniels穿过。[1]Kiffin为这一决定进行了辩护，指出"当一个孩子被承诺了什么来到一所学校时，他应该穿它"。[1]Pickett在2024年12月签约LSU时就被承诺可以穿5号，他表示自己"从4岁开始就穿这个号码"。[1]
Daniels随后通过律师向LSU提出异议，要求学校停止使用他的名字、形象和肖像进行推广。[1]不过Daniels在社交媒体上表示他"专注于NFL训练营"，并称"显然LSU有问题需要解决"，同时表达了"希望能私下得到解决"的态度。[1]作为回应，LSU官方在线商店已下架Daniels号码球衣的复制品。[1]Pickett是Daniels离开LSU后穿着5号球衣的第一位球员。[1]
LSU coach Lane Kiffin has stood by his decision to allow cornerback D.J. Pickett to wear the No. 5 jersey previously worn by former quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner. [1] Pickett, who signed with LSU in December 2024, was promised the number upon joining the program. [1] "When a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it," Kiffin stated, defending the arrangement. [1]
Pickett is the first player to wear the No. 5 since Daniels' departure from the university. [1] The cornerback emphasized the personal significance of the jersey, saying he had worn the number since age four and was specifically promised it when signing with the Tigers. [1]
Daniels, focused on his NFL training camp preparation, expressed through a social media post that "LSU has some issues they need to work through" and indicated a preference for resolving the matter privately. [1] Daniels' legal representatives had previously demanded that LSU cease using his name, image, and likeness for promotional purposes. [1] In response, LSU's official online merchandise store has removed replicas of Daniels' jersey from its inventory. [1]