Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.
With six days to go, today we look at former USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
Advertisement
Position: Wide receiver
Years played at USC: 2016-2019
Career highlights: After mostly playing on special teams for his first two seasons at USC, Pittman broke out towards the end of his sophomore year in 2017. In USC’s Pac-12 Championship Game victory over Stanford that December, he led the Trojans with seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. The following year, he finished the season with 41 receptions for 758 yards and six scores.
Returning for his senior season in 2019, Pittman established himself as one of the best receivers in all of college football. On the year, he caught 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. Pittman was named a second-team All-American, was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, and won the Pop Warner Award, presented to a college football senior who made a significant impact both on and off the field.
Advertisement
After USC: The Indianapolis Colts selected Pittman in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. After a modest rookie season, Pittman has emerged as one of the better young wide receivers in the league over the past five years. He recorded at least 780 receiving yards in all five campaigns, going over 1,000 yards in both 2021 and 2023.
Pittman was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. He will look to take his game to another level with Pittsburgh in 2026.
Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans WR Michael Pittman Jr.
