Lane Kiffin creates unnecessary drama over Jayden Daniels

LSU soccer is again to zero days with out incident.

Late Wednesday, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that former LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman winner, issued a cease-and-desist letter to the college barring it from utilizing his title, picture and likeness after first-year coach Lane Kiffin OK’d cornerback D.J. Pickett’s swap to his No. 5 jersey.

The quantity hasn’t been in use since Daniels departed for the NFL, and a spokesman for the NFL’s 2024 Related Press Offensive Rookie of the Yr blasted the choice to reissue it.

“The Daniels household is deeply disenchanted and feels profoundly disrespected,” the assertion started.

“Jayden and his household had each cause to imagine that his quantity would stay a significant a part of his LSU legacy and can be honored and guarded in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the college,” it continued.

Daniels started his collegiate profession with the Arizona State Sun Devils however developed into an elite NFL prospect at LSU, the place he began 26 video games between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. As a fifth-year senior in 2023, Daniels accomplished 72.2 % of his move makes an attempt for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and 4 interceptions whereas including 1,134 dashing yards and 10 touchdowns on 135 carries. The Tigers led the nation in scoring (45.5 factors per recreation), however a porous protection that allowed 28 factors per recreation stored the workforce from title rivalry, ending 10-3 and No. 12 within the ultimate AP ballot.

Jayden Daniels, LSU at odds over his No. 5 jersey

The general public dispute is an unlucky improvement and one solely of LSU’s making. Daniels is not issuing a wild demand by anticipating this system to respect his historic run, as a substitute solely wishing it adopted prior precedent. As Schlabach famous, this system’s different two former Heisman winners — operating again Billy Cannon (No. 20) and quarterback Joe Burrow (No. 9) — have not had their numbers reissued within the years since incomes the award.

Kiffin rationalized giving Daniels’ No. 5 to Pickett by saying it was “promised to him in recruiting” as a member of the 2025 high-school class, deflecting to LSU’s former teaching employees, led by coach Brian Kelly.

“When a child is promised one thing to return to a college, he ought to put on it,” Kiffin continued.

That argument can be extra legitimate if Pickett was a real freshman, however Pickett is getting into his second season and was completely effective sporting No. 3 as a freshman. Per Schlabach, Kelly defined not giving the nook Daniels’ quantity as a result of he “wasn’t ready to do it till we obtained a full dedication from one other Heisman winner.”

“We did not need to situation No. 9, so you’ll be able to’t deal with one in a different way from the opposite,” Kelly added.

Kiffin is just selecting and selecting which elements of the previous regime to honor and utilizing it as a defend. It was his alternative, and he ought to personal it. Regardless, the state of affairs is a foul look and one that might have simply been prevented. It additionally tells future recruits that their accomplishments won’t be precisely revered as soon as they go away for the professionals.

With out Daniels’ blessing, his No. 5 jersey must be off limits. LSU should not be alienating top-of-the-line gamers in program historical past, and Kiffin’s determination has threatened to fracture that relationship.

It could be regrettable if the 2 sides cannot get on the identical web page. In any case, Daniels’ Heisman season will without end be a part of this system’s legacy. Understanding Kiffin’s historical past, he might go away for an additional job in 4 months.