Tennessee football benefits no matter what from Pitt WR in portal

Last year’s No. 2 Power Five wide receiver in total receiving yards and No. 1 Power Five wide receiver in receiving touchdowns in the nation has now entered the transfer portal, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. That’s reason for Tennessee football fans to celebrate.

Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Jordan Addison caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2021. He also carried the ball seven times for 56 yards and a touchdown. Standing at 6’0″ 175 pounds, he’s now in the portal, and most signs point to him joining the USC Trojans

However, Tennessee football could be in play. National recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna of 247Sports tweeted out that the combination of Josh Heupel and Hendon Hooker along with the potential NIL money is what would make Rocky Top appealing.

Of course, given the departures of Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton, the Vols have room for another wideout and another go-to slot guy to complement Cedric Tillman. Addison is the type of receiver who could fill either void. Despite how loaded UT is there now, he’d be a huge pickup.

Still, even if Tennessee football can’t land him, this move is a huge benefit to the Vols. After losing late in the game to Pitt at home last year, they have to face Pat Narduzzi’s team on the road early to kick off this year.

A 5-0 start is very realistic for Rocky Top given the setup of their schedule. They host a Florida Gators team that’s rebuilding under Billy Napier and visit an LSU Tigers team that’s rebuilding under Brian Kelly. Their only other Power Five foe through those first five games was at Pitt.

With Kenny Pickett gone, there was reason for encouragement over the Vols beating Pitt. However, they were able to add USC transfer Kedon Slovis, and between him and Nick Patti, one was bound to be a solid replacement for Pickett.

Either one would have needed Addison early on, though. With him leaving, Pitt is significantly weakened. They may be a much better team down the stretch of next year, but they now have to replace the entirety of what drove their offense.

Against UT, Addison caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t among his most elite outputs, but he was still productive. Without Pickett and without Addison, it’s hard to see Pitt’s passing attack being the same early on in the season.

Meanwhile, Tennessee football is gelling perfectly. Heupel has a ton of talent back, they are much more experienced than they were when facing Pitt last year, and they are the ones with the star quarterback and receiver in Hooker and Tillman.

If Addison wants to join that, then a 5-0 start should be the expectation for the Vols. However, him leaving Pitt is enough to truly put that on the table next year. Rocky Top’s toughest Power Five foe through those first five games just lost arguably its best weapon.