Former Zephyrhills Star DJ Pickett at Center of LSU No. 5 Dispute With Jayden Daniels

Former Zephyrhills High School standout DJ Pickett will wear No. 5 for LSU this season, the same number he wore during his high school career with the Bulldogs. The decision has created a dispute between LSU and former Tigers quarterback and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

According to ESPN, Daniels has informed LSU through his attorney that the university can no longer use his name, image or likeness after the school allowed Pickett to take over No. 5.

Daniels wore the number during his two seasons at LSU before leaving for the NFL. While LSU never officially retired No. 5, Daniels and his family believed it would remain protected as part of his legacy with the program.

For Pickett, however, No. 5 has its own history.

Pickett wore the number throughout his career at Zephyrhills, where he developed into one of the top prospects in the country. The number also carried a family connection. Pickett previously explained that his older brother wore No. 5 at Zephyrhills and that following in his footsteps was part of the reason he chose it himself.

Pickett eventually became a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most highly regarded players to come out of Pasco County before signing with LSU.

The No. 5 jersey was also reportedly part of Pickett’s recruitment to LSU.

Current LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has said Pickett was promised the number before Kiffin arrived at the school. Kiffin said he felt the program should honor what Pickett had been told during the recruiting process.

Pickett wore No. 3 during his freshman season at LSU in 2025 before switching back to the familiar No. 5 ahead of his sophomore season.

That switch has now put the former Zephyrhills star in the middle of a much larger conversation.

ESPN reported that former LSU coach Brian Kelly was aware that No. 5 had been promised to Pickett during recruiting but ultimately chose not to issue it to him last season after Daniels objected. LSU has now reversed course and given Pickett the number.

The disagreement appears to be centered on Daniels’ relationship with LSU rather than a personal dispute between Daniels and Pickett.

For Tampa Bay football fans, however, there is another layer to the story.

Long before No. 5 became part of a national debate at LSU, Pickett was wearing it on Friday nights at Zephyrhills High School.

The 6-foot-4 defensive back starred on both sides of the ball for the Bulldogs and finished his prep career with 94 tackles and 10 interceptions defensively while catching 130 passes for 2,577 yards and 25 touchdowns on offense, according to LSU.

Now entering his sophomore season in Baton Rouge, Pickett will once again have No. 5 across his chest — only this time, the number has placed one of Pasco County’s most accomplished recent players at the center of a national college football storyline.