nfl

USC WR Jordan Addison selected at No. 23 by Vikings

This is the fourth consecutive year a USC player was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

On Thursday night, the Minnesota Vikings selected USC wide receiver Jordan Addison with the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

With the selection of Addison, this marks the fourth consecutive year a USC player was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, joining offensive linemen Austin Jackson (2020) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (2021), along with fellow wide receiver Drake London (2022). Addison also became the fourth USC wide receiver drafted in the past four years, joining Michael Pittman Jr. (2020 Round 2), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021 Round 4), and London.

Addison began his college career at Pitt, where he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver in 2021. Prior to the 2022 season, he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal and transferred to USC. In his lone season with the Trojans, he caught 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns despite dealing with an ankle injury during the second half of the season.

In Minnesota, Addison joins a loaded wide receiver group lead by NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson. He will also be catching passes from four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins.

“For sure,” Addison said, when asked during an interview with NFL Network if he and Jefferson will eventually become the best wide receiver duo in the league. “I’m so excited, I’m just ready to go get to work.”

As to Addison’s expectations for his time in Minnesota?

“A lot of plays and a lot of touchdowns. Score all night.”

USC players to watch on Day 2 of the draft

With Round 1 of the NFL Draft now in the books, Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Friday. Two USC players could potentially hear their names called on Day 2: defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu and offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees.

Tuipulotu was the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the year last season, while also earning Unanimous All-American honors. Vorhees was also an All-American in 2022 while winning the Morris Trophy, an honor given to the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12.