Jayden Daniels and LSU have taken the college football world by storm on Thursday, proving once again there's never a quiet day in Baton Rouge. Late on Wednesday Night, it was reported that Jayden Daniels' lawyers sent a letter to LSU telling the school to stop using their former quarterbacks Name, Image, and Likeness.
The main story that has been pointed to as the root of the issue is the fact that the Tigers gave the No. 5 that Daniels wore during his time at LSU to cornerback DJ Pickett. Heisman winner Billy Cannon's No. 20 is retired, and no one has worn No. 9 at LSU since Joe Burrow won his Heisman Trophy.
Lane Kiffin and DJ Pickett spoke on the controversy where both parties revealed that the Sophomore cornerback was promised the number when Brian Kelly's staff recruited the 5-star cornerback. As everyone has spoken on Jayden Daniels' behalf and on the issue, Daniels issued a statement.
Jayden Daniels' statement points to clear issue with LSU
On Thursday Afternoon, Jayden Daniels released a statement where he pointed to there being issues that needed to be worked out between his team and LSU.
Jayden Daniels: "Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately."https://t.co/AAQOopNSLT pic.twitter.com/sF2QD3sfsK
— Wilson Alexander (@walexander) August 13, 2026
The letter that Attorney Adam kenner sent to LSU to spark the story was made public, and it points to the clear issue that the two sides need to work out.
The letter from Jayden Daniels’ attorney Adam Kenner to LSU football stating the program “must immediately cease and desist from any further use, display, publication, distribution, promotion, commercialization, or other exploitation of Mr. Daniels’ NIL in any manner or medium.” pic.twitter.com/QdX6Tl1evG
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 13, 2026
According to the letter, Daniels entered an agreement with LSU's compliance office, providing LSU with at most 180 days post-termination or post expiration to continue using his Name, Image, and Likeness.
If the date that Jayden Daniels was drafted into the NFL was the date of termination, it's been 840 days, if the date of termination was when Daniels declared for the NFL Draft, it's been 969 days. In either case, LSU's 180 days have been long expired, and the Tigers no longer have the right to continue using his NIL.
The issue of giving Jayden Daniels' number away while other Heisman's numbers have been off limits may have been the final straw, but Daniels' team is clearly doing their job. LSU signed an agreement with Daniels, and they've clearly been violating it, and using his NIL without his permission if they've used it.
LSU wouldn't allow others to profit off their rights without a deal or permission so why should Jayden Daniels allow the Tigers to do the same? If LSU wants to give away Jayden Daniels' number, it's within their rights, but it also means the Tigers and the fans can't cry foul when he decides that enough is enough, and that they'll now have to pay him to market him.
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