former Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison Will transfer to the University of Southern California this fall, he Announce on social media Thursday.
Addison made an official visit to USC last weekend to reunite with the star sophomore quarterback, Caleb Williams, because they are all from Washington, D.C. Addison’s decision to go to USC gives head coach Lincoln Riley two of the most important transfer additions this offseason, as Addison and Williams are arguably the most coveted players to enter the portal. .
In a statement he posted to social media, Addison described the decision as “very difficult” and said he would be forever grateful to the University of Pittsburgh.
“Winning the ACC Championship will always be ours. Those true friendships will continue. Part of me will always be H2P,” he wrote.
“I have now carefully considered the advice of family and close friends and have fully weighed the risks and benefits associated with my decision. I also respect that others may make different choices. But for me, I will continue to be comprehensive Develop and become a student-athlete by enrolling at USC.”
Addison earned first-team All-American honors last season in Pittsburgh and received the Biletnikoff Award for the country’s most outstanding receiver. He entered the NCAA transfer portal on May 3 and visited USC and Texas. He considered staying at Pitt, as well as Alabama and Oregon, but ended up not going to either school.
Addison’s departure from the West was a blow to Pittsburgh, as the defending ACC champion lost the best returning player to an 11-3 run last season. USC went 4-8 and rebuilt the roster in Riley’s first year in office, and most of next season’s starters are expected to come from NCAA transfer portals.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi had multiple contentious calls with Riley shortly after Addison entered the portal, sources told ESPN earlier this month. However, there is currently no known evidence of tampering.
Addison’s move was seen as a beacon of a changing offseason. Only recently has the concept of a roster-hopping program for underclassmen emerged in college football. Thanks to a spate of rule changes – especially the one-time transfer rule – smooth player movement has become part of the sport.
While Williams’ move was seen as a one-time move that ran afoul of the name, image and likeness rule, as his Oklahoma-based college coach Riley left USC, he followed to him, so look at it from a different angle. Addison’s move to USC reinforces the reality that all rosters are fluid and that the sport’s big names can jump from one program to another with relative ease.
Sources have made it clear to ESPN throughout Addison’s decision-making process that his professional future will dictate his decisions.
Addison’s addition makes USC one of America’s best wide receiver duos as he joins Oklahoma transfer Mario Williams There. Last season, Addison completed 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s projected to be an NFL first-round pick in 2023, but at just 6 feet and 175 pounds, he’s unlikely to make the top 10.
Addison will join Mario Williams, another top transfer player in the country, who earned ESPN True Freshman All-American honors last year. Williams had 35 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns. Brendon RiceSon of an NFL Legend Jerry Ricealso from Colorado, where he averaged 14.2 yards per catch last season.
Addison’s move further reinforces the optimism behind Riley’s hiring at USC, as the lure of the prolific offense he built and called for in Oklahoma has moved to Los Angeles. While USC’s offensive line was problematic and the defense was one of the worst in the league last season, some key pieces have moved to the Trojans on offense.
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