Roundtable: What does Jordan Addison’s decision mean for USC, the Pac-12, and college football?
As the world of college football changes, another player is charging for more environmentally friendly (and warmer) meadows. This time, however, it’s a top wide receiver for college football. Billetonikov winner Jordan Addison announced Thursday that he will join the USC from Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh, we rushed to 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
After a free agent tour that included visits to Texas, USC, and Alabama, Addison settled in Trojans and played with Caleb Williams in the D.C. area, who had transferred from Oklahoma and Addison. Addison is the latest debut of USC’s revamped roster following the arrival of Lincoln Riley, giving USC a clear No. 1 receiver before the season, which is gaining more hype every day.
This decision was said to have been more about the NFL’s football and development than the names, images, and potential similarities that the USC could have unleashed for Addison. So what does this dire and unprecedented move mean for USC, Pittsburgh, and the current state of evolving college football? Our staff weighs. Paolo Ugetti
Does this move make USC a title contender?
Heather Dinich: When asked what to expect from fans this year, Lincoln Riley told ESPN on April 21 that it’s hard to say because there’s a lot of roster work to do. .. If he completes his entire roster, “usually like normal, you’ll be pretty close to winning a national title.”
“Whatever we get to the roster, our primary goal must be that the roster is as good as possible and that this team is as good as possible,” Riley said. “Thanks to the staff we brought here, we are not a settling group with less than winning championships, which is what we are all accustomed to.
That’s how we all are wired and fits very well with this place and the history of this program. This means that regardless of the situation, whether in the first year or the twentieth year, the championship is always expected. But with his arrival, I don’t think the Trojan will be in a different national title fighting class than last week. They need to participate in the conversation, not in their favorites. yet. It was already fair to anticipate an explosive attack. Defense is a more important variable here and it is difficult to predict what we expect. It should also be noted that USC is still chasing Utah very strongly in its own division.
Andrea Adelson: I’m not sure about national title candidates, but don’t hesitate to say that USC is a Pac12 title candidate. Before Addison, I thought it was because Riley was one of the most aggressive coaches in the game and had a quarterback accustomed to his system. In the Pac12 state, connecting the dots is easy and Riley can say that he will roll the USC faster than later. It’s a bit easier to believe now, as Addison is on board. I had an NFL scout last year who said Addison had already scored around and he was better than Kenny Pickett in terms of the NFL. Participating in the Riley system only helps him and the whole team.
Paolo Ugetti: Riley insisted he didn’t want to team up like that, but it’s not the USC’s efforts to challenge Williams in the middle of the next two seasons and gain a lot of talent. There is no mistake. Around him. Addison is an elite addition to the already talented and spacious receiver space, but there are still many questions about the unobtrusive position. It is not yet known how many defensive improvements a Trojan horse can make under one since last season.
Where does Williams/Addison rank in QB/WR duos for 2022?
Uggetti: Familiar C.J. Straud and Jackson Smith Nigba compete in Columbus, despite the firepower that the Williams Addison combo could bring to the West Coast. After losing Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson to the NFL, Smith Nigba explodes as a top receiver at Ohio State University, alongside Heisman contestants like Stroud. Addison and Williams could easily match that possibility, but they would be right behind them … for now.
VanHaaren: Most of the top receivers of last season are gone, so that alone ranks quite high on the list. But Williams also has Mario Williams on the list, so don’t forget the chemistry they already have. I agree with Stroud and Smith Nigba’s Paolo, especially what I saw last season and in the Rose Bowl. I would like to meet Xavier Worthy and Quinn Ewers in Texas. He’s not a receiver, but Georgia’s tight-end Brock Bowers made 13 touchdowns last season. That said, I’m not sure if I can stack Williams, Addison, and many other duos outside of Stroud and Smith Nigba.
Bonagra: Drawing a circle about which tandem is best can be completely dissatisfied with the results. I like to take a step-by-step look at these things, and what is clear is that Williams Addison is or maybe better than any other combination in the country. Is it the first third party? Fifth? Anyway, USC is starting this year with potential All-American QBs and receivers. USC last had FirstteamAllAmericanQB and FirstteamAllAmericanWR in the same season in 2005 (Matt Leinart and Dwayne Jarrett).
Adelson: Guessing how Jameson Williams came to Alabama a season ago to form one of the best duos with Bryce Young, Georgia’s transfer Germain Burton did the same thing as Young in 2022. It makes sense to predict that it will. After all, Alabama needs the number one goto receiver, and Young proved to know how to get the ball into the hands of the playmaker after the Heisman season. Of course, that role could be left to Louisville’s transfer Tyler Harrell. History shows that Crimson Tide has multiple recipients who become stars each year, regardless of whether Alabama becomes the top QBWR duo. They already have a QB that fits their role.
Who will play the Pac12 title game with the new setup?
Uggetti: There is a world where USC can take over Utah in the Pac12 title game. Despite everything the USC has done to put a competitive team on paper ahead of the season, the Utes remain thanks to its continuity. The Trojan schedule is easier than most of the other cases, and with the exception of Dan Lanning’s dream debut season at Eugene, it’s quite possible to see the All-South Championship Game.
Bonagra: Paolo is here. Beyond Addison’s arrival, the announcement of Pac12 that teams with the top two records will play in conference title games will make the USC’s path a little easier. Utah is still popular this season. Conversations beyond Utah begin with USC and Oregon.
Who is the biggest impact transfer in the off-season?
Uggetti: I think it’s still Caleb Williams. With his arrival at USC, the tone of the program completely changed from what felt like an imminent excitement under Riley to an imminent possibility of success. William not only raises the USC cap itself, but also seems to have the power to attract players like Addison who might not even have thought about moving to USC in the previous world.
Who will play the Pac12 title game with the new setup?
Uggetti: There is a world where USC can take over Utah in the Pac12 title game. Despite everything the USC has done to put a competitive team on paper ahead of the season, the
Utes stands out thanks to its continuity. The Trojan schedule is easier than most other schedules, and you can watch the All-South Championship Game except for Dan Lanning’s dreamy debut season at Eugene.
Bonagra: Paolo is here. Beyond Addison’s arrival, Pac12’s announcement that teams with top two records will play in the conference title game will make the USC’s path a little easier. Utah is still popular this season. Discussions beyond Utah begin with USC and Oregon. Who is the biggest slugfest of the off-season?
Ughetti: I think it’s still Caleb Williams. Upon arriving at USC, the tone of the program completely changed from the imminent excitement under Riley to the imminent possibility of success. William not only pulls up the USC cap itself, but the seems to have the power to make a player like Addison. He may not have considered the move to USC in the previous world.
Adelson: I agree with Williams, but I would like to emphasize the team quarterback he left behind. Gabriel is trying to establish the consistency he’s used to as a quarterback after Oklahoma moves out of the UCF. His first two seasons were great and he threw over 7,000 yards and 61 touchdowns. His junior season was over with an injury. However, he is now reunited with aggressive coordinator Jeff Levy. Jeff Levy coached him during the 2019 breakout freshman season at UCF. Being able to pull out the numbers Gabriel made early in his career will help ensure a smooth transition for his new manager, Brent Venables.
Where does the pit go from here?
Adelson: No doubt, Addison’s defeat only adds to the offensive transition in the pits, given that quarterback Kenny Pickett went with offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. But at least Pitt is in the spring to survive the quarterback contest between Kedon Slovis and Nick Patty, and new attack coordinator Frank Sinietti Jr. has installed his system. Losing Addison after spring training only adds to the batter. However, the Panthers have Jared Wayne (the team’s runner-up), among others. Konata Mampfield, who welcomed All American freshmen in Akron a year ago, is set to start with a promising spring. Jaron Baden is another young player who is also paying attention to the pits. Perhaps Pitt will eventually consider a transfer portal, but for now, Panther needs to find a way to move forward without the player projected as the centerpiece of the attack.
