Addison: Transfer to USC a 'gut move'

Jordan Addison landing with USC was widely expected after he entered the transfer portal in early May, and the receiver described the decision to leave Pittsburgh as a "gut move."

"I was looking for a great coach and a good football opportunity," Addison said on Saturday, according to ESPN's Paolo Uggetti. "I'm still figuring myself out and what I want to do, and I feel like I have a great opportunity to do that where I'm at now."

The wideout added that the exits of Panthers offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and wide receivers coach Brennan Marion caused him to reconsider his future with the team.

Addison is already viewed as a potential first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft after racking up 100 catches for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, securing the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver in the process.

But the 20-year-old could even improve on those numbers playing alongside quarterback Caleb Williams, whom he knows from high school.

"Caleb is Caleb," Addison said. "You don't have to say much more than that. But just where USC is at, everything around it, and with Lincoln here now, there's a lot of great things I feel like I can do in his offense."

Williams followed head coach Lincoln Riley to the Trojans after a breakout campaign with Oklahoma. The additions of Addison and Williams, arguably the two most coveted players in the offseason's transfer portal, were a major coup for Riley.

USC beat out Alabama and Texas to land Addison.