USC WR Jordan Addison on Crutches After Suffering Ankle Injury vs. Utah
Oct 16, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 01: USC Trojans wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) looks on during the college football game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the USC Trojans on October 1, 2022, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
USC wide receiver Jordan Addison was seen on crutches after suffering an apparent ankle injury during his team's 43-42 road loss to Utah on Saturday evening.
Addison had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in addition to two runs for 27 yards before departing in the third quarter. His final play was a 10-yard run on a reverse.
Shotgun Spratling of the Los Angeles Times provided more details.
Jordan Addison is up and walking down to the other end of the bench with the trainers. He is walking under his own power, which is a positive sign. https://t.co/hZX3mlCEGS
Addison, who transferred from Pitt to USC this season, has 39 catches for 585 yards and seven touchdowns this year. That followed a 100/1,593/17 stat line the year before.
Thanks in part to his efforts, USC has jumped out to a 6-1 start while averaging 40.5 points per game.
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Report: USC WR Gary Bryant Jr. Redshirting, Will 'Strongly Consider Transferring'
Sep 20, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: USC Trojans wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. (1) looks on during a college football game between the Rice Owls and the USC Trojans on September 3, 2022, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
USC will be without wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond that.
Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters Bryant is expected to redshirt for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted he "was a potential top prospect for this year's NFL Draft" and will "strongly consider transferring and will be highly sought after if/when he does."
Bryant arrived at USC as a 4-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
While he wasn't much of a contributor as a freshman, he turned the corner as a sophomore with 44 catches for 579 yards and seven touchdowns along with one rushing touchdown. He was third on the team in receiving yards and tied Drake London with the most touchdown catches.
Considering London is now on the Atlanta Falcons, Bryant seemed like a logical candidate to put up monster numbers in 2022.
Yet he had just two catches for 15 yards in USC's first three games even though the offense had no trouble scoring points in three blowout wins. He was behind Pittsburgh transfer Jordan Addison and Oklahoma transfer Mario Williams in the wide receiver pecking order and now may look elsewhere to continue his collegiate career.
The Trojans hit the transfer portal hard this offseason after hiring Riley away from Oklahoma, notably bringing in former Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams amid a number of moves.
Caleb Williams already had an established rapport with Mario Williams from their time in the Big 12, and Addison is arguably the best wide receiver in the country. That didn't leave much room for Bryant to take the next step from an individual perspective, and it appears his time at USC may be coming to a close.
Reggie Bush Talks Heisman, USC, Caleb Williams, CFB Playoff and More in B/R Interview
Sep 13, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Former USC running back Reggie Bush attends the USC game against Utah as a guest on the pregame show on Fox Sports at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Perhaps the only thing scarier for any college football defender than having to go up against Reggie Bush during his USC days is the idea of going up against him in today's Trojans offense.
Because arguably the most electrifying player in college football history might have been even better with head coach Lincoln Riley scheming him into open space.
"I'm winning two Heisman Trophies in this offense, without a doubt," Bush told Bleacher Report when discussing what he would have done if he lined up in USC's backfield in 2022.
It's safe to say things worked out fairly well for Bush with head coach Pete Carroll leading the program during his era. After all, his resume included the 2005 Heisman Trophy, two straight Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year awards and two straight selections as a consensus All-American.
USC finished atop the Associated Press poll during his freshman year in 2003, won the national title in 2004 and then lost a thriller to Texas in the national championship game to end the 2005 campaign.
It's been some time since the Trojans were operating at that level, and last season's 4-8 mark was quite the low point. Just when it appeared they were in danger of falling further behind the other college football bluebloods, they hired Riley away from Oklahoma this offseason and hit the transfer portal hard with a number of notable additions, including quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Jordan Addison.
"What a difference a head coach makes," Bush said while praising the early returns for USC's 2-0 start this season.
"It's just such a breath of fresh air watching this brand of football being played and being brought back to USC," he said. "And I gotta be honest, the way that they've looked these past two weeks reminds me a lot of the way our teams played. The Coliseum is rocking; the offense and defense are making plays. That's what we were, that's what we were about. Making plays on both sides of the football."
USC put up 66 points against Rice and 41 points against Stanford in a Pac-12 game that was not as close as the 41-28 final score indicated thanks to two late touchdowns for the Cardinal.
It has already climbed to No. 7 in the AP Top 25 and appears to be rolling even quicker than one of its most famous former players expected.
"I don't think anybody was expecting it to look this good this early," he said. "They look like they're in postseason form right now with the way that the offense is clicking and the way that Caleb Williams is finding his targets. The throwing lanes are tremendous. He's throwing into some of the biggest throwing lanes, and that's a testament to Lincoln Riley and his offensive creativity. The [opposing] defense the last two games has been on their heels the entire time. They didn't know what was coming."
Bush is going to be watching plenty of the Trojans this season and will need something to eat during the games.
It's fitting, then, that he partnered with Wendy's for a second straight year, this time to help announce the return of the pretzel bacon pub cheeseburger to the Made to Crave menu.
"It's been a great relationship," he said. "The commercials have been nothing short of just fun and allowed me to step into some foreign territory a bit and start to expand my abilities with acting and doing some fun skits. It's been amazing."
There is a tongue-in-cheek element in the commercial about Bush's Heisman Trophy that was vacated for NCAA violations, and he appreciated the opportunity to inject some comedy into the Wendy's pitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8aI1Q7dLIQ
"I loved the direction that we took the commercials this year," he said. "... I love comedy, growing up as a kid some of my favorite shows were Martin, TheJamie Foxx Show, In Living Color, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and shows like that. So comedy has been something that's been a part of my life for a very long time."
While the commercial brings levity to the situation, the NCAA's decision to force Bush to retroactively return his Heisman Trophy following an extensive investigation because it determined he and his family accepted impermissible benefits still stands as one of the most shocking developments in the sport's history.
USC also vacated its 2004 national title as part of the punishment, and Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times reported in July 2021 that the NCAA said it would not reconsider prior penalties such as Bush's even during the name, image and likeness era that gives players more individual freedoms and opportunities.
It should be noted that the Heisman Trust said at the time it would welcome him back "should the NCAA reinstate Bush's 2005 status," and he said he believes his Heisman Trophy will eventually be reestablished.
"Whatever the NCAA said last year is BS," he added. "It's smoke and mirrors by the NCAA, as usual. I'll just leave it at that."
While Bush is hoping to one day get his Heisman Trophy back, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is striving to join Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only players in college football history to win the coveted award two times.
While Bush said he believes there may be some hesitation from voters to give Young the award again—which could open the door for Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, USC's Williams or someone else—he still sees the Crimson Tide signal-caller as the "front-runner" after he engineered a pressure-packed drive in the final minute of Saturday's game at Texas to clinch a 20-19 victory.
"I think the front-runner right now is Bryce Young," he said. "He's playing great football. I think a lot of times when we think about statistical games and guys having a great day, sometimes the stats don't always show that last-minute drive. He didn't flinch, broke a tackle from a free rusher and made a great play to extend the drive. Sometimes the stats don't show that. That's why Bryce Young is in the lead right now. It's his playmaking ability, but it's also the timing. Great players are able to be great when it's needed most. And he was great when his team needed him most."
Bush, who is part of Fox's college football coverage and was in Austin, Texas, as part of the network's presentation of the game, was also impressed by what he called a "good loss" that will "instill confidence" for the Longhorns even though quarterback Quinn Ewers is expected to miss four to six weeks with an SC sprain to his left shoulder.
"Texas will be a team now that I have my eye on," he said. "They showed me a lot. The defense played great. They were fast; they were physical. Quinn Ewers looked really good. It sucks that he got hurt. He could have been the difference. If he stays in that game, they probably would have won. Texas outplayed them in just about every aspect of the game except that last minute and a half."
Unfortunately for the Longhorns, moral victories don't count in the race for the College Football Playoff.
There are a number of familiar faces right in the middle of that race in the early going with the reigning national champion Georgia Bulldogs sitting atop the AP poll and Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and Oklahoma rounding out the top six.
They have all been to the CFP since the postseason format was instituted, and Bush believes Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State will be there again at the end of this season.
But he also thinks he could have a serious rooting interest in the fourth and final team to make the field.
"USC could be the dark horse," he said. "I think they could be a team that sneaks in there and gets into the Playoff with the brand of football they're playing. The only thing that worries me is strength of schedule. They've got Notre Dame at the end of the season, but Notre Dame just looks so bad right now."
Notre Dame may be 0-2 and trending in the wrong direction, but the Trojans won't have to worry about strength of schedule as much if they win every game.
After all, that's what they did in 2004 when Bush was leading the way.
Kiper: USC's Jordan Addison 'NFL-Ready Right Now,' Could Be WR1 in 2023 Draft Class
Sep 12, 2022
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Jordan Addison #3 of the USC Trojans warms up before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. believes USC's Jordan Addison will make an immediate impact when he makes the jump to the next level.
Kiper said Monday that Addison could "absolutely" be the No. 1 wide receiver on the 2023 NFL draft board.
He wrote that Addison "already is an elite route runner," adding, "He's NFL-ready right now."
The Trojans star is coming off a breakout sophomore season. He caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns with Pittsburgh en route to winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award.
His starting quarterback at Pitt, Kenny Pickett, left for the NFL, while his offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple, took the same job at Nebraska, so Addison sought greener pastures at USC. Playing for head coach Lincoln Riley and having Caleb Williams throw him passes will allow him to fully showcase his skills for NFL talent evaluators.
"Just me already knowing Lincoln's history and what he did with some great receivers, that's No. 1," Addison said in August of what made USC alluring. "And just to see how the change was going here and the rebuilding process. I'm just glad to be out here."
The gambit is paying off. Through the Trojans' first two games, the 6'0" pass-catcher has 12 receptions for 226 yards and four touchdowns.
Addison will have stiff competition to be the first wideout selected in the 2023 draft.
LSU's Kayshon Boutte was the No. 1 WR and No. 4 overall pick in Bleacher Report's most recent mock draft. Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba was next and projected to land with the Houston Texans at No. 12. Addison followed one pick later to the New England Patriots.
Like Kiper, B/R NFL draft scout Derrik Klassen praised Addison's route-running and added he's "a significantly better ball-winner than his size would suggest and an absolute terror with the ball in his hands."
While the ceiling of Addison's draft stock is in flux, he appears to be a lock for a Day 1 selection.
USC's Caleb Williams Touted as 'The Truth,' Early Heisman Favorite After Stanford Win
Sep 11, 2022
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans warms up before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams had a coming out party on Saturday, establishing himself as a superstar and potential Heisman Trophy candidate with a dominant performance against Stanford.
The sophomore signal-caller went 20-of-27 for 341 yards and four touchdowns to lead the No. 10 Trojans to a 41-28 victory over the Cardinal. Williams was 13-of-15 for 244 yards and four scores in the first half alone.
A breakout performance came at the right time for Williams, as USC was playing in a nationally-televised primetime matchup. With all eyes on him, he rose to the occasion and didn't look like he felt any added pressure.
Anyone watching Saturday's game could see that the Trojans have something special on their hands with Williams. Social media lit up with many praising him as the next big thing in college football.
Caleb Williams sure looks like USC’s next Heisman Trophy winner.
Williams transferred to USC from Oklahoma, following head coach Lincoln Riley after he departed the Sooners to take the position with the Trojans. They both appear to have made a seamless transition to the West Coast.
It has been quite some time since USC has been the national powerhouse it once was. The last time the Trojans finished a season ranked in the top five was 2016 when they went 10-3 and defeated Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
With Williams under center for at least one more season after 2022, the future appears to be bright for USC.
USC QB Caleb Williams Releases 'Seize the Awkward' PSA for Mental Health Awareness
Sep 6, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans scrambles out of the pocket during the second quarter against the Rice Owls at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 03, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is doing more than just throwing touchdown passes this fall.
As Pete Thamel of ESPN noted, Williams and fellow USC communications students produced and filmed a national public service announcement called "Seize the Awkward" in an effort to increase awareness about the importance of mental health.
"I want to be a voice, be a brother for whoever is dealing with [mental health] challenges," Williams said. "I'm not different. We all go through some struggles. Depending on who you are, you take things different. I'm trying to be there for whoever I can."
The PSA was done as part of a collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the Jed Foundation, the Ad Council and Caleb Cares. Caleb Cares is Williams' charitable organization, and the Jed Foundation focuses on suicide prevention for young adults.
Williams also painted his fingernails with the suicide prevention number last year.
On the field, the quarterback transferred from Oklahoma to USC this past offseason. That the move came after Lincoln Riley, who was Williams' former head coach with the Sooners, took over the Trojans program made it all the more notable.
If Williams lives up to expectations in 2022, he will be a Heisman Trophy contender and could help lead USC to the Pac-12 title and into the College Football Playoff discussion.
He led the Trojans to a 66-14 win over Rice in the season opener and faces Stanford in the Pac-12 opener on Saturday.
Report: USC 5-Star QB Commit Malachi Nelson Signs as Klutch Sports' 1st HSFB Client
Aug 18, 2022
MISSION VIEJO, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Malachi Nelson (7), of Los Alamitos, during a game against Santa Margarita in the first half at Saddleback College Stadium on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 in Mission Viejo, CA. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Malachi Nelson, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2023 and a USC commit, is signing with Klutch Sports, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.
Nelson will become the first high school football player to sign with the agency.
Nelson, a 5-star recruit out of Los Alamitos, California, is considered the No. 2 overall prospect in the Class of 2023, the No. 2 quarterback and the top player in his state, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
Only fellow quarterback Arch Manning—the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning—ranks higher in the class.
Gabe Brooks of 247Sports wrote in the scouting report for Nelson that he is "very likely one of the nation's top quarterbacks—and overall prospects regardless of position—in the 2023 class. Projects as an impact starter at the high-major level with long-term early-round NFL draft potential."
In June, Thamel reported that Nelson has already signed an NIL deal with The h.wood Group, "a Los Angeles-based global hospitality firm with more than 30 restaurants and clubs worldwide that are frequented by boldfaced names like Drake and the Kardashians."
Nelson will promote SLAB, a Texas-style BBQ chain.
"It's cool to be a part of it and be at the front of everything that's happening, especially in the high school space," he said at the time. "It's good to get to this point where people are getting rewarded for what they do. It's amazing to be at the front of it."
Nelson, like many other young college recruits, is at the forefront of the NIL world. Becoming the first high school football player to sign with Klutch—co-founded by NBA legend LeBron James and agent Rich Paul—is another landmark move for the young quarterback.
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Report: USC Hires Ed Stewart to Oversee Football Program After 16 Years with Big 12
Aug 5, 2022
College Football: Closeup rear view of USC helmet with Pac12 logo and USA flag during game vs Stanford at Los Angeles Coliseum. Equipment. Los Angeles, CA 9/11/2021 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163796 TK1)
Big 12 executive associate commissioner Ed Stewart has been hired by USC to oversee the school's football program as executive senior associate athletic director, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Stewart had spent 16 years with the Big 12 before agreeing to the USC job.
Stewart had served as the Big 12's senior associate commissioner since August 2006. Among other things, his duties included overseeing football daily operations, the Big 12 championship game, league officiating and bowl contract negotiations, per his Big 12 bio.
The 50-year-old began his career as an athletic academic advisor at Michigan State University from 1997-99 before becoming associate athletic director at the University of Missouri, serving in the role from 1999-2006.
Stewart also played college football for Nebraska and was a member of the school's 1994 national title-winning team. He was named a consensus All-American, Big Eight Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Butkus Award that season.
Stewart has familiarity with new Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley. The two worked together while Riley was head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners from 2017-21, so his addition will likely be a welcome one.
In addition, Stewart worked for the Big 12 through several realignment phases, so his addition at USC will be huge as the school, along with UCLA, will transition from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten in 2024.
"He brings a lot of experience with conference realignment, which is a huge piece," a USC source told Thamel. "His ability to be a leader in the transition over the next couple years will be critical."
Stewart is hoping to become an athletic director at some point in the future, according to Thamel, so his move to USC is a step in the right direction.
