Two USC Newcomers in On3's Top 10 Returning Players for the 2022 Season
It’s never too early to start looking forward to the upcoming college football season. We’ve had a wild offseason thanks to the NCAA transfer portal as some of college football’s true superstars elected to change programs. As the countdown to the season inches closer, On3 will be presenting the On3 Impact 300. It will rank the 300 best players in college football entering the 2022 season. The full list will be presented during the coming weeks, but Thursday marked a peek at the top 10 returning players.
Two USC Trojans are listed among the top 10 players and there is very little surprise when it comes to which ones were selected.
Quarterback Caleb Williams is in at No. 4. And wide receiver Jordan Addison checks in at No. 9. Williams and Addison were also the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the 2022 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.
The top 10 players represent just six programs. Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and USC each have two players listed.
Williams in the Top 5
The additions of Williams and Addison this offseason are the best examples of what head coach Lincoln Riley meant when he said at his introductory press conference, “We plan on building the best roster in the country,” Riley said. “You can turn over rosters in so many different ways. We’ll be very deliberate and creative and intentional about that.”
Williams was the last of 13 transfer portal commitments for USC prior to spring ball. Riley has yet to name a starting quarterback. But there will be no surprise when Williams takes the first snaps for the Trojans this fall. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback slides in at No. 4 on this list, just behind fellow quarterbacks Bryce Young of Alabama and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State. That spot is consistent with other entities this offseason. Vegas Insider has those quarterbacks ranked Stroud, Young, Williams in terms of their betting odds to win the Heisman Trophy this season.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
Williams is coming off a season in which he completed 64.5% of his passes for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He also ran for 442 yards on 79 carries with six touchdowns. He sees room for growth and set out to work on a few improvements this spring. If he improves his performance, USC will have one of the best players in the country running the offense this season.
Addison Among the Top 10 Returning Players
It’s tough to pick between Williams and Addison when it comes to which transfer caused the biggest dustup around college football this offseason.
Williams’ departure left a lasting impact in Norman, Oklahoma. But Addison’s move led Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi to reportedly call Riley several times to express his displeasure.
In the end, Addison said he made the move because he was looking for “a great coach and a good football opportunity.” He has that at USC. Addison could be the aerial focal point of the Trojans’ offense. And it’s one that stands to put up plenty of yards and points this season.
Addison is the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wide receiver. Last season at Pitt, he caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. He joins a USC receiving corps that welcomes back Tahj Washington and Gary Bryant Jr., who contributed heavily last season. The Trojans also landed Mario Williams, Brenden Rice and Terrell Bynum via the transfer portal.
