Pitt Star Wide Receiver Enters Transfer Portal, Pitt Head Coach Not Happy With Rumored Destination

Welcome to the new era in college sports, where the second coming of the Wild West is taking place. 

In July, college athletes were officially allowed to profit off of their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), setting off an arms race never seen before in college sports. Along with the NIL rules, players are now able to enter the transfer portal without having to sit out a year, making for a potent concoction capable of igniting the tempers of coaches as programs battle for top talent. 

Pittsburgh star wide receiver Jordan Addison is the story of the day, but he’s just the latest example of the new college football landscape causing a stir. 

In February, Texas A&M head Jimbo Fisher lashed out at writers and coaches questioning the way the Aggies recruited, calling those who believed A&M was working off of a $30 million fund to help pay for their recruiting class, “clown acts.”

“There is no $30 million fund,” said Fisher. “There is no $5 million, there is no $10 million. This is garbage,” Fisher said. “It pisses me off.”

“It comes from a site called ‘Bro Bible’ by a guy named ‘Sliced Bread’ and then everybody runs with it,” Fisher continued. “So it’s written on the internet and it’s gospel. How irresponsible is that?”

Fisher said it was insulting to the players he’s recruited to insinuate that the NIL rules were the reason for choosing A&M.

“We’ve got writers who have said it off a guy named ‘Sliced Bread,’ who made it up,” he added. “And then to have coaches in our league and across the league say it? Clown acts. Irresponsible as hell. Multiple coaches in our league.”

When it comes to Addison, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner, the news of his potential transfer from Pittsburgh is angering many within the Pitt program. 

On Friday, ESPN reported that Addison was considering transferring, and that USC (Southern California) was a potential landing spot. 

Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi reportedly reached out to USC head coach Lincoln Riley “multiple times” in order to express his displeasure with Addison’s name being connected to the Trojans, with some Pitt officials believing that tampering could have occurred. 

On Friday, Addison’s name officially appeared on the transfer portal, though Addison has reportedly left the door open to returning to Pitt as he explored his options. 

Last month, Alabama head coach Nick Saban discussed the possibility of the NIL and the transfer portal coming together to create a situation where colleges are buying players. 

“The concept of name, image and likeness was for players to be able to use their name, image and likeness to create opportunities for themselves. That’s what it was,” Saban said in an interview with the Associated Press. “So last year on our team, our guys probably made as much or more than anybody in the country.”

“But that creates a situation where you can basically buy players,” Saban continued. “You can do it in recruiting. I mean, if that’s what we want college football to be, I don’t know. And you can also get players to get in the transfer portal to see if they can get more someplace else than they can get at your place.”

While many believe that players should be able to profit off of their names as their schools and the NCAA make millions off their on-field performance, the ability to transfer to the highest bidder whenever and whenever they’d like could cause a major problem for college sports down the road.

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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