Danny Kanell reacts to Jayden Daniels sending LSU cease-and-desist over No. 5: ‘Absolutely ridiculous’
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Danny Kanell thought he had seen it all; then Jayden Daniels sent LSU a cease-and-desist letter over the use of his No. 5 in 2026.
“This to me is absolutely ridiculous from Jayden Daniels,” Kanell said Thursday on SiriusXM. “Like I just…his number’s not even retired officially.
“Now, if it was retired, you know, which it probably will one day, he was a Heisman Trophy winner. I would imagine it gets retired someday down the road. And even then, like we’ve seen other players’ (numbers) worn if you ask them.
“Usually you ask the player and it’s like an honor for that player. Sometimes they might have some special, you know, kind of designation to a player that wears a jersey number from a former great. But how we got to this point where he’s saying he feels profoundly disrespected feels a little bit ridiculous to me from Jayden Daniels.”
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“This to me is absolutely ridiculous from Jayden Daniels.”@dannykanell sounds off on Jayden Daniels sending a cease and desist letter to LSU for giving the #5 to DJ Pickett. pic.twitter.com/Vk0HypHqUN
— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) August 13, 2026
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Daniels is not pleased with Lane Kiffin‘s decision to let Tigers cornerback DJ Pickett wear No. 5. Pickett, who wore No. 3 as a freshman, has stated that he was promised No. 5 during his recruitment. Former LSU coach Brian Kelly, however, did not give Pickett the number after Daniels objected.
Speaking to ESPN, Kelly noted that no LSU player has worn No. 9 since Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy in 2019. Daniels won the Heisman in 2023.
Daniels does not have legal means to bar Pickett from wearing No. 5, but the cease-and-desist serves as a way of striking back at LSU for granting the request despite his objection.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
