Pitt's Jordan Addison named winner of Biletnikoff Award, All-American

Even before he wrestled the football from a Virginia defensive back, Jordan Addison had proven he was the best wide receiver in the nation.

Addison’s efforts were rewarded before a national TV audience on ESPN on Thursday night when he was named winner of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best pass catcher, regardless of position. He also joined Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett on the Walter Camp All-American first team. They are Pitt’s 95th and 96th all-time All-Americans.

Pickett is only the third Pitt quarterback to earn first-team All-America honors, joining Dan Marino (1981) and Matt Cavanaugh (1977). Addison is Pitt’s first All-American wide receiver since Larry Fitzgerald (2003).

Pitt is tied with Alabama and Oklahoma State for the most Biletnikoff winners (three). Addison joins Fitzgerald (2003) and Antonio Bryant (2000).

“Every day at our practice facility, I walk past the Biletnikoff Award trophies won by Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant,” Addison said in a statement. “I always go up and put my hand on the trophy because it was my goal to one day win it. I am so humbled and blessed to join those all-time greats.

“I share this honor with all of my teammates, coach (Pat) Narduzzi and my wide receivers coach, Brennan Marion. This is just as much their award as it is mine.”

Minutes after he was named the winner, he told ESPN, “Man, it feels good. Usually, I’m a cool and nonchalant guy, but I can’t even hide my emotions right now.”

Addison, a sophomore, turned into one of the most dangerous aerial threats in college football while teaming with Pickett, the ACC Player of the Year.

“The offseason when I knew he was coming back, we lived on that practice field,” Addison said on ESPN. “We just showed it every Saturday.”

With one game remaining, Addison leads the nation in touchdown catches (17) and is third in receiving yards (1,479) and first among players from Power 5 schools.

Among Pitt’s all-time pass catchers, he is second in both categories to Fitzgerald (22 and 1,672 in 2003).

He has 93 receptions this season, lifting him to second in Pitt history to Maurice Ffrench, who had 96 in 2019. Addison scored a touchdown on average once in about five receptions.

Addison breaks down his season in simple terms.

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

Addison won the award over Purdue’s David Bell and Alabama’s Jameson Williams.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young won the two individual awards Pickett was a finalist for Thursday night. Young topped Pickett and Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III for the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s top player, and beat out Pickett and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the country’s best passer.

The winner of the Maxwell Award has won the Heisman Trophy six of the last seven years.