Pitt's Jordan Addison, Wendell Davis eager to write new chapters in 2021
Apr. 2—Join the conversation
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Pitt's Jordan Addison and Wendell Davis will enter the 2021 football season thinking they can do better after significantly different outcomes a year ago.
Addison was Pitt's most impactful first-year wide receiver since Tyler Boyd in 2013.
Davis won the starting middle linebacker job in training camp and played in the first two games before suffering a season-ending injury.
New season, new hope for both players.
"I think I had a pretty good year," Addison said Thursday after Pitt's sixth practice of the spring.
Yet, pretty good isn't good enough in his eyes, even if three media outlets named him a freshman All-American.
"I left a lot of plays out there that I'm working on," said Addison, who checked in this spring at 6-foot, 175 pounds (five pounds heavier than last season). "I feel like you have to be hard on yourself and believe in yourself at all times. That's what motivates me."
Addison's stats were good — he led the nation's freshmen with 60 receptions — but he also had 10 drops in 10 games. In his sophomore season, he would like to display better hands and increased knowledge of the offense while improving on his 666 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
"I think I need to work on learning the whole offense," he said. "My freshman year, I feel like I just knew what I was doing. I want to know what everybody is doing so I know the spacing and the timing and where the ball is going to be."
He said his goal is to reach 1,000 receiving yards, a feat that has been done by only seven others at Pitt and not since Boyd's 1,261 in 2014.
"My goals are high," he said.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Davis' mood has improved dramatically.
After his injury, rehab was interrupted by personal issues related to his family, he said. He remained with the team and enters his redshirt junior season aware he must win his job back.
Chase Pine started the final nine games at Davis' crucial spot in the middle of the defense and recorded 43 tackles, seven for a loss (third on the team among returning players). Pine is one of 12 so-called super seniors who are returning after taking advantage of their free season of eligibility, courtesy of the NCAA.
Junior Brandon George also is in the mix at middle linebacker after he played mainly special teams and totaled 16 tackles.
"There is no job that is ever fully yours," Davis said. "Whether I played the whole year and had a great year, I would have to come back this spring and fall and earn the spot back. That's how college football is."
Davis, 6-2, 240, said he was "healed and ready to go" a month after the end of the season. He believes he could have played in a bowl game — Pitt decided to decline the opportunity — if he had not missed rehab.
"When I first was injured, I was really down. Everything was going so well. I waited my turn, and I felt like it was finally my time to go. Every week, I thought I was getting better and better.
"I can't wait for the fall. I get to show Pitt what exactly I can do for a full season at linebacker."
Pitt is well-stocked at the position, with Phil Campbell III, another super senior, and junior SirVocea Dennis, who had 57 tackles a year ago to lead all returning players, at the money position on one side. Senior Cam Bright (53 tackles) and super senior John Petrishen are at the star spot on the other side.
"We have a lot coming back," Davis said. "We are probably the most underrated group, maybe in the ACC. We have that hungry mindset to really put our name on the map and be the focal point of this team because they are really going to need us."
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry by email at jdipaola@triblive.com or via Twitter .
