Reports: Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison considering transfer from Pitt

Pitt wide receiver Jordan Addison, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner who teamed with Kenny Pickett to give the Panthers one of the top passing games in college football, is considering a move into the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple national reports. Addison’s name did not appear in the portal Saturday afternoon, but he has until the deadline Sunday to enter it.

If Addison enters the portal, USC could be a possible destination with a name, image and likeness deal, according to reports. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi called USC coach Lincoln Riley on Friday to express his unhappiness.

A Pitt spokesman declined comment.

SOURCE: Quite a situation brewing involving Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison looking into transferring from Pitt with USC as a possible destination. He had 100 catches for 1593 yards and 17 TDs last year.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) April 30, 2022

This is the second time this year that reports of Addison possibly transferring have surfaced. There were similar reports in January that Addison was thinking about following former Pitt wide receivers coach Brennan Marion to Texas. But Addison stayed at Pitt and participated in Pitt’s spring drills.

Addison did not play in the Blue-Gold spring game because Narduzzi was trying to keep him healthy for the fall.

Also, Narduzzi mentioned on Sirius XM ACC Radio in February that Notre Dame — through “back channels” — tried to get Pickett to transfer before last season.

“I guess people reached out to Kenny Pickett to go to Notre Dame a year ago,” he told host Roddy Jones. “I had no idea. He didn’t say anything to me, which obviously it didn’t get that serious, but Notre Dame recruited him through the back channels.

“It’s not (former Notre Dame coach) Brian Kelly but someone’s telling these guys, whoever they are, to come to Notre Dame, right? We’re gonna start losing more college coaches to the NFL game, so they don’t have to deal with this chaos. And I think that’s gonna be bad for college football.”

In the past, Narduzzi talked about the “legalized cheating” that has emerged in college football.

The Jordan Addison/USC thing is nothing new on the top of mind for @CoachDuzzPittFB.
He called it “legalized cheating” on our show and worried where it was headed … back in August of 2021.

pic.twitter.com/2yoovkTMxE

— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) April 30, 2022

Jordan Addison is most likely going to USC to take the $$$ that USC and Lincoln are bringing to the table. This is AWFUL for CFB. I'm all for NIL but there has to be some protection/regulation/opportunity for Pitt to match the offer and keep the player they developed.

— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) April 30, 2022

After last season, Narduzzi recruited former USC transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis as a possible replacement for Pickett, who was a first-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.

The upcoming season is one of transition for Pitt. In one offseason, the Panthers lost offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, Pickett and Marion.

Losing Addison at this point of the year would be the most significant blow to Pitt’s quest to repeat as ACC champion. Addison, who is approaching his junior season, could be a top choice in the 2023 NFL Draft if he even remotely comes close to his performance last season.

He caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns in his All-American season, building on his Freshman All-American efforts in 2020 when he led Pitt in receptions (60), receiving yards (666) and receiving touchdowns (four).

Pitt has depth at the wide receiver position, with Jared Wayne, Jaylon Barden and Jaden Bradley returning this season, with Akron transfer Konata Mumpfield and Louisiana Tech Bub transfer Means added to the mix.

But Addison’s ability to run past defensive backs set apart Pitt’s passing game from most of the others in the nation. His contested catch late in the Virginia game helped clinch the ACC Coastal championship for Pitt.

Sources: Pitt WR Jordan Addision, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the country's best WR, is strongly considering transferring from Pitt. He's yet to appear in the NCAA transfer portal, but his transfer looms as a strong expectation. USC is a top potential destination.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 30, 2022

News out of Oakland tonight: Jordan Addison plans on leaving the Pitt football program. Intends to transfer. Wow.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 30, 2022

NOTE: Pitt backup quarterback Joey Yellen, who transferred from Arizona State in time for the 2020 season, has entered the transfer portal. He started against Miami and Notre Dame in 2020 when Pickett was injured and ended the season with 402 yards passing, one touchdown and three interceptions. He made only one brief appearance last season and was behind Slovis and Nick Patti on the spring depth chart.