LSU football cornerback DJ Pickett, who was promised the No. 5 jersey as a recruit by the Tigers' previous coaching staff led by Brian Kelly, addressed the jersey saga with former Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels to reporters on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Pickett, a former five-star recruit who wore No. 3 last season as a true freshman, will wear No. 5 in 2026, although no LSU player has worn the number since Daniels' Heisman win in 2023. No LSU player has worn Joe Burrow's number, either, since Burrow won the Heisman in 2019, although his No. 9 jersey isn't retired.
Pickett said he has no hard feelings with Daniels, who issued a cease-and-desist to LSU regarding
his name, image and likeness rights after the jersey debacle.
"About the number situation, I've worn the number my whole life," Pickett said. "Since I was 4 years old. It's something I was promised. I wish Jayden the best. He's a good player, did real good here."
First-year LSU coach Lane Kiffin commented on the situation last week, noting Pickett deserves to wear No. 5 if it was promised to him as a recruit, even if Kiffin wasn't the coach that made the decision. Kiffin was asked again Aug. 13 about that matter, but said he'll refer back to his previous statement.
"That was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, to get him to sign here," Kiffin said Aug. 5. "And 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, I'm not going to get into that, not going to judge something I wasn't here for.
"When a kid is promised something to come to school, he should wear it. And that point I don't really think it's my decision. It should be honored what he was told."
Pickett was named to the Freshman All-SEC team in 2025, along with earning Freshman All-America honors by FWAA. The 6-foot-4 cornerback finished his first college season with 35 total tackles, two sacks and three interceptions, and is expected to be one of the best defenders in the SEC as a sophomore.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DJ Pickett says No. 5 jersey 'promised' to him as LSU football recruit
