12:38 am ET
Pete Thamel ESPN
Pittsburgh All-American Jordan Addison, who won the 2021 Biletnikoff Award for top wide receiver in the country, is considering a transfer, sources told ESPN.
Addison is one of the sport’s top returnes for the 2022 season and his potential transfer comes at a time when one-off transfer rules and laws on names, pictures and likenesses have given the sport unprecedented roster flexibility.
Addison, who just finished his second season, has yet to enter the NCAA transfer portal. If he wants to qualify for the upcoming season without requiring a waiver, he would have to do so before the May 1 deadline. That means there’s a decision coming up this weekend that will be closely followed around the sport.
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A source told ESPN that Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi got wind of USC’s potential target and called Trojans coach Lincoln Riley several times Friday to express his displeasure. Pitt officials suspect tampering may have occurred.
USC did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday night.
A source close to Addison said late Friday night that there is “no predetermined destination” for the receiver and that he could stay in Pittsburgh. The source said Addison isn’t looking for a zero deal and each move would be tied to his professional development.
Addison caught 100 balls and 17 touchdowns as former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett’s top goal in 2021. Next season, since that 2021 breakout season, Addison would have a new quarterback, offensive coordinator, and positional coach.
The potential for him to join USC has arisen in part because Addison has a pre-existing relationship with star quarterback Caleb Williams. They are both from the Washington DC area. It is not uncommon for players to enlist and recruit other players, a tactic that has been reinforced since it is no longer necessary to sit out a year for a player’s first transfer.
If Addison enters the NCAA transfer portal, it would be a compelling market test of an established college football star’s value in the open market. While that may not be Addison’s motivation, there are clearly schools and collectives that are motivated to ensure college football programs become top targets.
Addison and Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba are projected to be the top two wide receivers of the 2023 NFL draft.
USC has made 15 off-season transfers since Riley’s hiring. Riley has said publicly that USC’s roster is expected to be dramatically different between last Saturday’s school spring game and the start of the 2022 season.