The drama surrounding LSU’s iconic jersey numbers just hit a new level, with former Tigers star Jayden Daniels’ representative sending a cease-and-desist letter to the school’s athletic director, Verge Ausberry. This isn’t just a spat about a number on a jersey; it’s a full-blown dispute over Daniels’ name, image and likeness, and it throws a huge wrench into the situation surrounding DJ Pickett’s switch to No. 5 for his sophomore season.
The No. 5 Jersey: A Legal Showdown and a Father’s Firm Stance
This whole mess blew up because DJ Pickett, who wore No. 3 as a freshman in 13 games last season, is moving to No. 5. That number? It was famously worn by Daniels during his two seasons at LSU from 2022 to ’23, and nobody has used it since he left. Now, Daniels isn’t just quietly upset; his rep formally informed the school it can no longer use his NIL. Daniels himself took to social media, saying there are “issues to be worked out” with LSU and hoping for a private resolution. Meanwhile, Pickett’s father told The Advocate that his son has absolutely no plans to switch from No. 5, despite all the controversy. LSU hadn’t given any indication that the No. 5 was retired or wouldn’t be put back into circulation. Plus, according to LSU’s official jersey retirement bylaws, established way back on January 1, 2007, a specific jersey being “retired” doesn’t actually take it out of circulation for current student-athletes. The head coach gets to decide if it’s used. Wild, right?
Joe Burrow Drops a No. 9 Bombshell
As if the No. 5 situation wasn’t spicy enough, Joe Burrow, another Tigers legend, weighed in on his own No. 9 jersey. Speaking to reporters after a Cincinnati Bengals preseason game on Thursday night, Burrow revealed that LSU officials told him they “wouldn’t use” the No. 9 jersey again. But then he added the kicker: “you never know what happens” as time passes. Burrow’s number being taken out of use stems from his incredible 2019 season, when he won the Heisman and led one of college football’s all-time great teams to a 15-0 record, setting an FBS single-season record with 726 points scored. It’s a massive legacy. Unlike the No. 5, Burrow’s No. 9 isn’t officially retired like the five numbers LSU pulled from circulation *before* those 2007 bylaws: Pete Maravich’s No. 23, Bob Pettit’s No. 50, Shaquille O’Neal’s No. 33, Billy Cannon’s No. 20, and Skip Bertman’s No. 15. Those are locked down, but for guys like Burrow, it’s a whole different ballgame.
This whole thing makes you wonder about the future of iconic numbers in college football. Will Daniels and LSU work things out privately, or is this NIL dispute going to get messier? And how long will Burrow’s No. 9 stay out of commission given his own “never know what happens” comment? LSU has some serious questions to answer.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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