The Jayden Daniels LSU battle is petty and bizarre. The former Tigers quarterback has issued a cease-and-desist letter to the university, mandating that they stop using his name, image, and likeness (NIL). His representatives have also instructed LSU to return its copy of his 2023 Heisman Award. The school has said it has no intention to return the trophy or fully comply with the cease-and-desist.
How did things get to this point in such a short time? The answer has to do with a childlike mentality that led to a preschool temper tantrum over something as trivial as turning off cartoons. What invoked the rage of the alleged adult and Washington Commanders quarterback was promotional photos of sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett wearing an LSU number five jersey. This is the same number Daniels wore for two seasons in Baton Rouge, and he felt entitled to having his number retired immediately.
Daniels’ numbers are impressive, especially considering he only played two seasons at LSU (transferring after three years at Arizona State). He threw for 6,725 yards (fifth all-time in school history) and 57 touchdowns (third). He added 2,019 yards (18th) and 21 touchdowns (16th) rushing. He never won a championship for the school and chose to sit out their 2024 bowl game so he could prepare for the NFL Draft.
He had an impressive career at LSU, but Daniels thinking that his jersey retirement was a foregone conclusion is a bit arrogant and reeks of a Gen Z mindset. He is not owed anything by the school, the football team, or the fans. Even Joe Burrow, who had a much better career than Daniels at LSU, including winning a national championship, doesn’t have his jersey retired. He is seven years removed from his last year with the Tigers (versus Daniels’ three years). It’s time for someone to grow up.
Jayden Daniels LSU Battle Involves More Than One Entitled Youth
The plot gets even weirder when considering the involvement of Pickett. According to Lane Kiffin, the cornerback was promised he could wear number five in college as part of the recruiting pitch to get him (Pickett wore number five in high school). This was confirmed by former Tigers coach Brian Kelly, who recruited Pickett. He said that number five was promised as part of the school’s pitch, but that he assigned number three to Pickett as a freshman because he had not gotten a green light from the Daniels camp.
So, Kelly wouldn’t let Pickett wear number five because Daniels hadn’t okayed it, but he felt it was fine to guarantee it in exchange for a letter of intent? As much as Daniels’ behavior makes him look like a prima donna, Kelly’s behavior sheds a negative light on college coaches and their recruiting tactics. The former coach promised something that he knew he might never have permission to give. Unlike Kelly, Kiffin made good on the recruiting promise, not caring how the former LSU quarterback felt about it.
Good for Kiffin. Shame on Kelly and shame on Daniels. There could be some shame on Pickett as well. It’s still unclear whether he requested number five or demanded it in exchange for a commitment. Either way, there is definitely bad behavior all around in Baton Rouge.
