Viral photo of LSU players wearing No. 5 to spite Jayden Daniels isn't what it seems

A viral practice photo showing LSU players wearing No. 5 quickly triggered online claims that the Tigers were trolling former quarterback Jayden Daniels. But the misunderstanding, as LSU clarified through details in reports, came from how training camp works and from a prior jersey decision. Photos first posted by @AlexBoxWarrior showed two different players—one in a white defensive jersey and others in purple offensive jerseys—wearing No. 5 during the same session. Fans also overlooked that teams often use the same number simultaneously on offense and defense. The No. 5 was assigned by head coach Lane Kiffin to sophomore cornerback D.J. Pickett, a number Daniels wore when he won the Heisman in 2023. Pickett said it was a promised number.