Narduzzi praises Addison's 'detailed' approach as sophomore receiver becomes Biletnikoff semifinalist

Jordan Addison has believed in himself since he first stepped on the field for Pitt in 2020, and has been open about his high expectations for himself.

He's told receiver coach Brennan Marion how he wants to be first round pick someday in the NFL Draft, and even has ESPN in his Twitter handle that reads "@Espn_Jordan."

After earning Freshman All-American honors last season, Addison is in good company as he was named on Monday to one of ten semifinalists of the Biletnikoff Award for best receiver in the country:

Addison has made himself a major name in college football by being ranked among the best in the country with his 11 receiving touchdowns tied for most in the country and his 1,070 receiving yards be ninth-most. He's also gotten those yards in just 60 receptions, which makes his 17.8 yards per reception average higher than 5 of the 8 receivers with more receiving yards.

Pat Narduzzi stopped his Monday press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to explain how Addison's mother broke the news to the sophomore.

"Jordan Addison is a -- semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award," Narduzzi said. "That's why I was a little late coming in here. I talked to his mother about five to noon. She was screaming on the phone, excited. I said, 'Why don't you call him?' She goes, 'He probably won't answer my phone.' As I'm walking down the hallway, he happened to be meeting with Coach Marion in the receivers room, and I said, 'Call your mother.' She was able to break the news."

Narduzzi further explained how when Addison called his mother, he couldn't tell if Addison heard the news because he never reacted.

"I'm sitting on the phone," Narduzzi recalled. "I was waiting. I can't tell when she told him. He acted like he didn't care."

Regardless of whether Addison cares or not, it's a big deal for the 19-year old from Frederick, Md. Since the award was first created in 1994, Pitt has seen two receivers win the award with Antonio Bryant in 2000 and Larry Fitzgerald in 2003. The only programs in the country with more recipients of the award are Alabama and Oklahoma State, both with three winners.

"It's a heck of an award for him," Narduzzi said. "Great player. He has a great quarterback throwing it to him, and any time you got a guy in the top ten, that's pretty prestigious, and we know the last guy that won that award played a long time in the NFL. Great deal there."

Addison isn't just a a deep threat receiver, as he's been a consistent go-to target for Kenny Pickett's big season that's put Pitt's quarterback in conversations for the Heisman Trophy. He's been able to line up in all the different receiver spots. And with recent injuries to Jaylen Bardon and Melquise Stovall, Pitt has called upon Addison to be the team's punt returner.

"He is detailed," Narduzzi said. "He is smart. Look what he has done on punt return. When you got a guy like Quadree Henderson or Jordan back there, guys that have a knack to make somebody miss and have the breakaway speed, he has made that unit a little more dangerous. Special teams coordinators out there are going, 'oh, gosh.' We don't want him to take hits like he did last weekend. That's kind of why we've kept him off there. Just let him play receiver, but he loves it. He is a competitor."

In addition to Addison's attention to detail, Narduzzi praised the cool-headed demeanor of Addison. It's not just how Addison takes a phone call when he stays calm, but in all the aspects of being a student-athlete. From team meetings to study halls, and workouts. 

"It's unique," Narduzzi said when seeing such a consistent approach from a star receiver. "I don't know how everybody else's receivers room is, but it's unique. You just love him."

Addison is one of the younger players who've stepped up on a roster with 27 seniors, 13 of them "super seniors" who are back purely because of the COVID-19 eligibility waiver. He's also become one of its bigger playmakers as the Panthers have positioned themselves with a chance to clinch the ACC Coastal division and punch their ticket to the ACC Championship Game with a victory over Virginia at Heinz Field on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

"I told his mother the other day," Narduzzi continued about Addison. "I don't know what you did growing up, but you got the master plan as far as how to raise a son, that's for sure. She did an unbelievable job. If everybody had the attitude he has and just football, school, life, you know, doesn't call his mother enough. We have to kick him in the butt about that. He is just a super, super kid."

• Narduzzi didn't comment when asked about guard Jake Kradel, who left Pitt's win over North Carolina with an apparent leg injury after just two plays. Kradel was replace by Blake Zubovic, while Matt Goncalves was already replacing Gabe Houy. Narduzzi indicated Houy could've played against North Carolina, but was held out. While he wouldn't offer specifics on whether Houy would play, he didn't dismiss the idea either.