Jayden Daniels is drawing a lot of attention towards himself before the 2026 NFL season, but the latest buzz is a bit troubling for his former college football program.
The Heisman Trophy winner is preparing for another season with the Washington Commanders. However, his focus appears to be elsewhere regarding his time with the LSU Tigers.
MORE: Jayden Daniels ripped by former Heisman winner for creating ‘distraction’ with LSU debacle
Daniels is already receiving negative press after causing an issue with his former program about using his name, image and likeness. Meanwhile, a new LouisianaSports.net report states that Daniels reached out to LSU to claim his Heisman award from the SEC school.
Matt Moscana’s report suggests that Daniels’ team reached out to the university, but was denied his request. The Commanders starting QB supposedly even spoke with school leadership and LSU head coach Lane Kiffin.
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All press isn’t good press
It’s unclear why Daniels is making all these requests right now as the Commanders get ready for the 2026 season. However, the timing couldn’t be worse for him, his team and the LSU Tigers.
Daniels is three years removed from his Heisman Trophy-winning season. Washington enters this fall needing to rebound after an abysmal 2025 campaign that saw the Commanders miss the playoffs.
However, the oddest part about Daniels’ demands is that he failed to accomplish the biggest goal during his time with LSU. The Tigers never won a national championship while he played in Baton Rouge.
The LSU-Jayden Daniel saga takes another strange turn.
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) August 13, 2026
Sources confirm Daniels’ camp wants LSU to return its copy of the Heisman Trophy—something LSU has no intention of doing.
Daniels contacted LSU leadership before fall camp. Lane Kiffin has personally spoken to Daniels.…
That’s something that Joe Burrow at least accomplished back in 2019 in the midst of his Heisman-winning season.
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Daniels puts pressure on his alma mater
ESPN’s report Thursday indicates that Daniels is very concerned with LSU using his personal NIL. That’s led to a cease-and-desist order being filed against the university.
That same report indicated that Daniels is upset with the SEC school allowing other players to wear the same jersey that he did. However, there’s no claim to the no. 5 LSU jersey considering many other players before him wore that same jersey.
Current Tigers player DJ Pickett is slated to wear the jersey for the upcoming college football season.
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