USC Standouts Andrew Vorhees, Jordan Addison Unavailable for Cotton Bowl
USC will be without two of its best offensive players when the Trojans take on Tulane in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2. Head coach Lincoln Riley said Wednesday that offensive guard Andrew Vorhees and wide receiver Jordan Addison won’t be available for the New Year’s Six bowl game. Both will continue to focus on rehab for injuries that plagued them throughout the second-half of the season.
Vorhees sat out USC’s game at Arizona on Oct. 29 and then was limited in several others later in the year. He did not play in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Utah.
It’s a disappointing end to a tremendous time with the Trojans for Vorhees. He finishes his USC career as a First-Team All-American, a First-Team All-Pac-12 performer and a winner of the Morris Trophy, presented to the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12.
“He’s been a warrior for us all year long,” Riley said of Vorhees. “I know It kills him to not be able to play.”
Vorhees will now turn his attention toward rehab and preparing for the NFL Draft.
Riley said Addison has “elected to continue to rehab his ankle injury.”
Addison suffered the injury while being tackled along the sideline against Utah. He left that game and did not play against Arizona or Cal, the following two games. He played a handful of snaps against Colorado and then made a huge impact in a 48-45 win against UCLA. In that game, Addison caught 11 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.
The reigning Biletnikoff Winner didn’t put up the same lofty stats he did in 2021. But despite the missed time, Addison still led the Trojans with 59 receptions, 875 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
At this point, the likelihood is high that Addison has taken his final snap for the Trojans and will ultimately elect to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s seen as a very likely first-round draft choice and could eventually work his way into the discussion of the first wide receiver taken. Though, Addison has yet to make a public statement about his future.
Joining Brett Neilon on the Sideline
USC will also be without starting center Brett Neilon against Tulane. The veteran lineman was injured late in the Pac-12 Championship Game. He was previously ruled out of participating in the Cotton Bowl by Riley.
Not having Neilon and Vorhees available for this one will offer a bit of a glimpse at the future of the line without those two next season. Veteran lineman Justin Dedich will slide to center after playing guard all year.
