Jordan Addison explains his conversations with Carson Palmer, what it means to wear No. 3

For the first time since the 2002 season, somebody will be wearing No. 3 for the USC Trojans. Last worn by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Carson Palmer, Pitt transfer wide receiver Jordan Addison will now rock the number. Previously, USC had retired the number but with permission, Addison will dawn it in the LA Coliseum.

Before Addison could officially wear the number, he had a conversation with Palmer, asking if it was okay. Things went swimmingly but Addison admitted it was a “nerve-wracking” experience. The message from Palmer was a simple one — go out there and continue to be great with USC.

“First, I just want to thank him again,” Addison said. “It’s an honor and I’m truly blessed for him to pass that number down to me and pass me that torch. That conversation — it went well. It was nerve-wracking a little bit just to talk to a Heisman winner and hopefully, I can get that under my belt one day.

“He really just told me that I got to stay focused and do what I been doing. Go out there and put it all on the line every time I step on the field. Make sure they know who I am every time I step onto that field.”

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Palmer had his number retired by USC thanks to his Heisman Trophy-winning season back in 2002. The Trojans came up short of the Pac-12 championship but were able to win the Orange Bowl and kickstarted what was a dominant run over the next couple of years.

Addison is hoping for a similar trajectory but under head coach Lincoln Riley. With Pitt last season, Addison won the Biletnikoff Award for being the nation’s top wide receiver. As he mentioned, the Heisman Trophy is something he’d want to win, following in Palmer’s footsteps.

USC will kick off the season on Saturday and defensive coordinators will defiantly be paying attention to where Addison is on the field. Even with the stacked receiving core the Trojans will walk out there, with quarterback Caleb Williams, Addison will be at the front of everybody’s mind. He has the potential to do special things in Los Angeles.

Addison is just hoping those special moments can live up to the ones Palmer produces nearly 20 years ago. While a Heisman Trophy might be tough for a wide receiver to obtain, getting USC back into the thick of the national conversation may be considered a job well done.