One of the biggest reasons for Pittsburgh’s success on the gridiron last fall is no longer suiting up in the Steel City.
The odds for him to stay with the Panthers weren’t as good as the ones you see on the best online casino.
A Biletnikoff Award winner, receiver Jordan Addison has made the decision to migrate out west and join USC, a few weeks after being rumored to want to enter the transfer portal.
As one of the sport’s premier performers at his position, Addison pulled in 100 receptions a season ago, compiling 1, 593 yards and 17 touchdowns. His average grab went for 15.9 yards.
Pitt’s Historic Season
Pitt had one of its best campaigns in recent memory with him catching throws. The Panthers came out on top in 11 games and grabbed an Atlantic Coast Conference crown, their first, in a win over Wake Forest.
The run came to a close with a New Year’s Six Bowl appearance, a loss to Michigan State. Still, the team’s fans had something to look forward to this upcoming fall. Pitt brought in a quarterback from USC, Kedon Slovis, who was projected to go early in this spring’s NFL Draft before he was hurt.
Still, it appeared to Addison that there might be a drop-off in his production and professional prospects if he stayed.
Close but No Cigar for Addison
Texas was also said to be in the running for Addison’s talents. The Longhorns were trying to lure another star to Austin after importing passer Quinn Ewers — a native Texan — last winter.
Ewers, once a five-star quarterback recruit, spent his first season with the Ohio State, who have a track record with sending triggermen to the NFL under head coach Ryan Day. The prized pledge saw limited playing time as one of C.J. Stroud’s understudies.
Addison would’ve added another big-play threat to a UT crew that is looking to finally return to national relevance.
Is USC Back?
USC has undergone an expansive makeover since hiring Lincoln Riley to lead the program. The head coach had a promising arm in Jaxson Dart — now with Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss — but used his influence and proof of offensive success to build through the portal.
The glitz and glamor and California sun probably didn’t hurt, as he acquired quarterback Caleb Williams and wideout Mario Williams from the school he jilted, Oklahoma.
Riley has shown to be a huge supporter of player choice, similar to the way that coaches like himself can jump ship and go wherever they want, when they want. We saw the reality of such changes when Brian Kelly departed from Notre Dame for LSU last season, even though the Fighting Irish still had an outside chance at making the College Football Playoff.
Addison was set to have to deal with change at Pitt, as well. His signal-caller, Kenny Pickett, continued on to recently be drafted by the nearby Steelers. His wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator also departed.
If not for such a group of familiar faces leaving, it’s possible Addison might have stayed put. It was a friend that helped talk him into joining the Trojans.
Caleb Williams, who’s from the same area that Addison is, was in the former Panthers receiver’s ear, telling him what he thought they could accomplish together if they joined forces. Williams took over for Spencer Rattler with the Sooners last year and slung the ball for 1, 912 yards. He also notched 21 touchdowns to only four picks.
The duo could be lethal in a Pac-12 that’s ripe for the taking.
Addison’s Sunny Future
With the Trojans — a former college football superpower in the days of Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush — Addison will seek the same sort of breakthrough that he assisted with in the blue and gold.
If Addison, Caleb Williams, and coach Riley can turn things around at one of the most storied locations in the sport, the way programs go about rebuilding might change for good. If it doesn’t, coaches could use it as an example of what are essentially dream teams, not panning out.