The LSU Tigers are currently the villains of college football. That’s sort of what happens when you hire Lane Kiffin. Last month, LSU entered a battle with one of the only three Heisman Trophy winners in the school’s history: current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels was reportedly upset that LSU gave out his No. 5 jersey so quickly after he departed following the 2023 season. Former head coach Brian Kelly reportedly promised not to issue the No. 5 jersey, but Kelly was fired after last season. However, when Kiffin took over, he recently gave the No. 5 jersey to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett. This led Daniels’ camp to issue a cease-and-desist order to LSU over the use of his name, image, and likeness.
For his part, Daniels
released a statement on social media, acknowledging a disagreement, but saying his focus was on the Commanders and the upcoming 2026 NFL season. Daniels did say he hoped the two sides could come together again. When later questioned about his spat with LSU, Daniels politely referred to his previous statement.
Whether you agree with Daniels or not, he’s taken an unfair amount of criticism over the issue. Meanwhile, LSU is given the benefit of the doubt. For whatever it’s worth, Kiffin isn’t necessarily the bad guy in his instance either. In his mind, he fulfilled a promise the previous staff made to Pickett.
Some former LSU players have come and criticized Daniels, including retired eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback and LSU legend Patrick Peterson.
“Man, I thought it was a little wack and lame, to be honest with you, man, especially with him,” Peterson recently said on the “In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu” podcast.
“It was bad timing for one. You have so many things that you need to worry about, as a professional quarterback, and coming off an injury at that. I feel like that was something that shouldn't have been thought of. I hear that he didn't like the way that he’s been treated. That he’s not getting the same treatment as Joe Burrow is getting. I don’t know the truth to that. At the end of the day, I thought it was lame. I thought it was a little childish for him to go and say, ‘You can’t use my number.’”
Wack and lame, two words that have never been used to describe Daniels before. Peterson is certainly entitled to his own opinion. He’s one of the greatest players in LSU history, too. And whether Daniels is right or wrong, LSU keeps taking shots at Daniels, using social media to keep it going.
For his part, Mathieu said he felt it was an overreach by Daniels, but both LSU legends said they loved Daniels and remain big fans of him.
Don’t expect Daniels to discuss the matter further again. LSU, on the other hand, appears to be enjoying taking shots at its former star quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Former NFL star has two harsh words to describe Jayden Daniels-LSU saga
