Whenever he confronted his older brother, Michael — one-on-one with the football in the air on a deserted field in Maryland or in the backyard — Jordan Addison met his match.

Which doesn’t happen especially often. Just ask any of the defensive backs on the five teams Pitt has played this season.

Michael, who played safety at Division II Shepherd (W.Va.), sometimes got the better of his little brother.

“It was pretty tough because he knows me pretty well,” Jordan Addison said. “He knows most of my moves.

“Growing up, that’s who I looked up to. He was the first one to play football within my family.

“He can’t guard me, though.”

Asked if big brother roughed him up a little — just to keep him honest — Addison answered, with a smile, “Yeah, I don’t want to speak on that too much.”

Yet those lessons pale in comparison to what the brothers discuss when Jordan calls after a game.

“I talk to my brother after every game, and he told me, ‘Keep your head down and keep working and look up at the end.’

“That’s my brother. We relate on a different level. Him telling me what I got to do means a lot.”

Addison, who has 29 receptions for 524 yards, leads the nation in touchdowns (nine) and is ninth in aerial yards per game (104.8).

How did that happen?

Let Pitt safety Erick Hallett break it down.

“He gets open. He catches the ball, and he scores a lot,” Hallett said. “Nobody plays like him, at least nobody we play.”

When asked what has led to his success, Addison had an equally simple reply.

“What’s led to my success is me just making the plays I’m supposed to make,” he said. “My coaches put me in position to do great things, and I just make those plays for the team.”

He said he hasn’t faced many double teams this season. Georgia Tech tried it occasionally in Pitt’s most recent game, and more may be coming. “But I’m ready for it,” he said.

Threats elsewhere on the field could make some teams think twice about using too many resources on Addison. Taysir Mack has caught nine passes for 221 yards in Pitt’s two games against Power 5 opponents. Tight end Lucas Krull has caught five touchdown passes in five games.

“Double-team me, and you’re leaving someone else open or one-on-one,” Addison said. “With the weapons we have, I don’t think you can guard everyone.”

While Addison leads Pitt in targets (41), he also has dropped four passes, according to Pro Football Focus. Which leads him to work harder.

“I can’t just settle,” he said. “I just have to keep working.”

Addison said he doesn’t pay attention to his stats, but he and teammates are aware Pitt leads the nation in scoring (52.4 points per game). Whenever players break a huddle on offense, they shout “50” — their goal for every game.

“I don’t want to say it’s beyond what we hoped for because coming in we knew all the threats we had on offense,” he said. “(Scoring) 77 (against New Hampshire) might have been a lot, but we’ve been aiming for this.”

He said his bond with quarterback Kenny Pickett, his workout partner all summer, has been getting stronger.

“I think that helps on the field,” Addison said.

He even accompanied Pickett on his golf outing, later admitting, “That’s not my thing.”

“But now that I did it with him, I actually had fun with it. I need some more (golf) tips. I’m still learning.”

What about getting an invitation to those weekly Hog Dinners, courtesy of one of Pickett’s NIL deals?

“That’s what I’m waiting for,” Addison said.

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