Jordan Addison may still be a divisive topic amongst Pitt fans, but the Minnesota Vikings sure are happy that they used the 23rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to draft him.
After a very solid start to his professional career, Addison broke out in a big way against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Matched up with 49ers defensive back Charvarius Ward again, Addison ran a deep post, came back for a slightly underthrown football, ripped it away from Ward and galloped 60 yards for his second touchdown of the night.
It wasn’t just redemption against Ward, after losing a one-on-one battle in the first quarter, but a blast from the past — reminiscent of when he scored a 62-yard touchdown to clinch the ACC Coastal against Virginia in 2021. And what was — in his own eyes — the standout play of his collegiate career?
“I’d say my catch versus Virginia, just clinching that coastal and that just shows a lot of people that in big-time moments, I’m going to step up to the occasion,” Addison said at the NFL Combine in April.
Through two-and-a-half quarters against the 49ers, Addison leads the Vikings with six receptions on eight targets for 110 yards (18.3 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. Without superstar Justin Jefferson in the lineup, Addison is emerging as one of the elite young wide receivers in the NFL.
Through six and a half games this season, Addison has racked up 28 receptions for 387 yards (13.8 yards per reception) and six touchdowns. And as he grows more and more accustomed to life in the NFL, his impact should only continue to grow.
Addison earned Pitt’s third Biletnikoff Award in 2021, joining Antonio Bryant and Fitzgerald, as well as consensus All-American honors on the heels of a season in which he caught 100 balls for 1,593 yards (15.9 yards per catch) and 17 touchdowns.
However, in April of 2022, Addison decided to enter the transfer portal and elected to transfer to USC, finishing his collegiate career with the Trojans.
After two seasons at Pitt, he finished his career with 160 catches for 2,259 yards (14.1 yards per catch) and 21 touchdowns in just 24 games.
In a lone season at USC, Addison caught 59 passes for 875 yards (14.8 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns. Despite a down season in SoCal, Addison’s natural ability enabled him to remain a top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Addison, despite the early exit, will always have a place in Pitt history — and now he’s working for a place in NFL history.
