DJ Pickett doesn’t talk much about what happened in August.
TJ Dottery can’t recall him ever mentioning it. Ty Benefield isn’t sure what the controversy even was about.
“What happened with five?” Benefield said. “Yeah, I actually didn’t know about that.”
It was a story that captured national attention, but if you’re like Benefield and don’t know or remember what took place, here’s a synopsis.
On Aug. 5, former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels sent a cease-and-desist letter to LSU over the school’s decision to allow Pickett to wear his old No. 5. The letter requested that LSU no longer use Daniels’ name, image and likeness, further stating the Daniels family was “deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player.”
LSU and Pickett didn’t budge. Pickett kept wearing the number, and Daniels’ name and image still appear on the jumbotron at Tiger Stadium on game days. Only this time, when LSU fans see the former Heisman Trophy winner on the big screen, boos rain down from the bleachers.
The whole saga was bizarre, not just because of the result but because it threw Pickett into a controversy he never asked for. He was promised he could wear the jersey when he committed to LSU out of high school. He wore No. 3 as a freshman before switching to No. 5 this fall.
He wanted to wear a jersey that better represents him and his family on the field.
“I felt good. I felt like my old self,” Pickett told The Advocate when asked what it felt like to wear the No. 5 again. “I’ve been wearing the number since I was four. Three was a good number, but now that I’m in five, I just feel like it’s me.”
Pickett said he leaned on his family during those strange times. Now eight games into his sophomore season, and with a massive matchup against Alabama on deck Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC), Pickett has wound up on the other side of the No. 5 saga stronger.
“He responded exactly how I thought he would,” Dottery said. “He didn’t respond at all. He just showed up, continued to play every day in practice and on Saturdays.”
That level of focus from Pickett has paid off. He’s allowed just 17 catches for 137 yards and no touchdowns on 275 plays in coverage this season, according to Pro Football Focus. He also has an interception, four pass breakups and 25 tackles.
The final stat is notable. Last season, Pickett had 33 tackles and struggled with the physicality of the Southeastern Conference. But he’s noticeably stronger this year, dishing out big hits against Auburn and Mississippi State in recent weeks.
Coach Lane Kiffin challenged Pickett to be more physical this season. Pickett said he also challenged himself to get stronger in the offseason.
“Lifting weights and the play strength that I have on the field (improved),” he said. “Last year, a lot of guys were, you could just tell, they were a little stronger than me. But now, this year, it’s easier.”
Teammates have noticed his improved play strength and physicality.
“Just as he’s progressed throughout the year, I see he’s getting more physical,” Benefield said. “Which is funny because you get into November football and usually people’s bodies are hurting. But with DJ, he’s getting bigger hits throughout each week.”
With LSU needing at least three wins in its final four games to reach the College Football Playoff, the job isn’t done for Pickett, who has kept his head down and worked no matter what was swirling around him.
If a soap opera regarding his jersey number couldn’t throw him off track, don’t expect LSU’s high-stakes matchups over the next few weeks to slow his progress.
“I’m proud of how he’s improved as a guy who’s only played the position for a couple of years,” Kiffin said. “And he’s got a really bright future ahead of him of improving more.”
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