Jordan Addison Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

College football award watch list season rolls on this week and another USC Trojan yet to take a snap wearing cardinal and gold was honored Thursday. The Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s top pass catcher, released its watch list. It included USC’s Jordan Addison, the lone Trojan selected.

Addison was an easy choice for the watch list, considering the 6-foot, 174-pound receiver won the award last season. He’s looking to become the third two-time winner of the award in its 28-year history. Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech won it in 2007 and 2008. Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State won it in 2010 and 2011.

Addison could also become the second USC Trojan to win the award. Marqise Lee took it home in 2012. Lee caught 118 passes for 1,721 yards and 14 touchdowns that season. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Last season, on his way to the award, Addison caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. He added another score on the ground. As always, it was a tough competition heading into the final vote. Addison beat out Alabama’s Jameson Williams and Purdue’s David Bell, the other two finalists.

Addison will have an opportunity to win it again in 2022. He’s likely to be the No. 1 receiving option for a USC offense that should put up yards and points in bunches this fall. The Trojans bring back Tahj Washington and Gary Bryant Jr. But there is a massive hole with Drake London off to the NFL as the No. 8 overall selection by the Atlanta Falcons.

London, meanwhile, was arguably college football’s most dominant receiver through the seven and a half games in which he played last season.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley has some familiarity with the Biletnikoff Award. Oklahoma’s Dede Westbrook won the award following the 2016 season. He caught 80 passes for 1,524 yards and 17 touchdowns. Riley was in his second season as the Sooners’ offensive coordinator.

Other USC Additions?

Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, will add players to the watch list throughout the season depending on production. There was no rule that only one player from each program could make the watch list. Both London and Washington were on it for USC last season.

Jameson Williams was added in October of last year. And four other semifinalists were added during the season.

The one USC selection is another reminder of how interesting that competition for the No. 2 receiver will be for the Trojans this fall. Bryant and Washington will be interesting to watch. But incoming transfers Mario Williams, Brenden Rice and Terrell Bynum are here to play. And returners in Kyle Ford, John Jackson III, Michael Jackson III and Kyron Ware-Hudson all seem ready to contribute. Toss in true freshman C.J. Williams and a stable of running backs, including big-time prospect Raleek Brown, and there are pass-catching options everywhere for the Trojans.

Biletnikoff Award Watch List Members on USC’s 2022 Schedule

Addison is one of just three Pac-12 wide receivers on the watch list and none of the three were in the conference last season.

UCLA’s Jake Bobo caught 74 passes for 794 yards and a touchdown at Duke last season. Arizona’s Jacob Cowing caught 69 passes for 1,354 yards and seven touchdowns for UTEP.

Fresno State’s Jalen Cropper could provide the first big test for the Trojans outside. He’s coming off a very productive 2021 season, with 85 catches for 899 yards and 11 touchdowns. And he scored twice more on the ground.

And while this award is fairly synonymous with wide receivers, it’s technically open to any player who catches a pass during the season. That explains the inclusion of Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. He’s one of the top tight ends in the country, having caught 71 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns last season.