Pittsburgh hiring Big Ten assistant to offensive staff

Pittsburgh is bringing an assistant from the Big Ten over to their offensive staff. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Rutgers wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood will take over the same role for the Panthers.

“Source: Pittsburgh is hiring Rutgers wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood to be the school’s next receivers coach,” revealed Thamel. “Underwood will coach Jordan Addison, one of college football’s best wide receivers who won the Biletnikoff Award last season.”

After spending his college career as a wide receiver for the Scarlet Knights, Underwood went undrafted at the next level. However, he caught on with multiple teams — leading to a professional career lasting almost a decade. Throughout his time with multiple NFL franchises, Underwood amassed 1,006 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

After his playing career ended, Underwood took up coaching. First, he was the wide receivers coach at Lafayette in the Patriot League. Then, he was given a chance by the Miami Dolphins, hired as their offensive quality control coach in 2019. Afterwards, Greg Schiano gave his former star a chance on his staff when he returned to Rutgers. He hired Underwood as the Rutgers wide receivers coach in 2020.

Now, Underwood will take his talents to the ACC, coaching under Pat Narduzzi. As Thamel mentions, Underwood will have a chance to coach one of the best units in the sport, including last season’s Biletnikoff Award winner, Jordan Addison.

More on Tiquan Underwood, Pittsburgh

Moreover, Tiquan Underwood isn’t the only talented offensive coach joining the Pittsburgh staff this season. Earlier, the Panthers hired Boston College offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti to their staff.

In 2020, Cignetti coached Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec to throw for 2,558 passing yards in his first 10 starts — the most by any quarterback in program history. He was one of the more underrated passers in the ACC.

Cignetti also coached former Eagles’ tight end Hunter Long to a very promising career. Long became the highest drafted tight end in school history when the Miami Dolphins selected him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.  The New Hampshire native led all tight ends nationally in receptions (57) and ranked second in receiving yards (685) behind Florida’s Kyle Pitts.

Before Boston College, Cignetti coached Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, and Sam Bradford during his 11 years in the National Football League.

As you can see, Pittsburgh is putting together an exciting offensive staff in an effort to stay among the best in the ACC. Time will tell if they made the right decisions, and if they’re able to fend off the likes of Clemson, Wake Forest and Miami.