Ryan Clark, who played at LSU before his lengthy NFL career, is weighing in on the Jayden Daniels jersey number scandal.
Daniels, who won a Heisman Trophy at LSU, is upset that the Tigers are giving out his No. 5 jersey to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett. The LSU Tigers cornerback wore No. 3 as a freshman but he's switching to his preferred No. 5 as a sophomore. Daniels and his family did not want another Tigers player to wear No. 5. Pickett is the first to wear it since Daniels left for the NFL.
"The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player," the statement from Daniels' spokesperson said. "Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university."
LSU has not retired the No. 5 jersey. However, the Daniels family feels that no other player should wear it. No player has worn Joe Burrow's No. 9.
"Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected," the statement said. "His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU."
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A media firestorm has resulted.
Everyone from MLB teams to restaurants to ticket companies have trolled Daniels and his jersey number drama on social media.
Clark blames media, fans for piling onto controversy
Ryan Clark, who was recently laid off by ESPN, is accusing the media and fans of a "smear campaign" against Daniels.
"The smear campaign against Jayden Daniels bothers me. Whatever your opinion on the NIL cease-and-desist, nothing changes the way Jayden has represented himself, his family, and LSU—with class and integrity. What bothers me even more is seeing former players and fans try to pit Jayden against Joe Burrow, as if one diminishes the other. Joe is the greatest Tiger to ever live. But what Jayden meant did in Death Valley deserves to be immortalized in Tiger lore, too," he shared on X.
Of course, it's a bit unfair to label this a "smear campaign." It was Daniels and his camp that started this. They chose to go public with the story. And they didn't have to.
It's not a smear campaign when people are reacting to something that you decided to do.
