Pitt's new wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator Tiquan Underwood spoke with Pittsburgh media for the first time Wednesday, addressing his new assignment and the talented receiver room he inherited.
Underwood joined Pitt shortly after Frank Cignetti Jr. took over at offensive coordinator. He comes from being Rutgers' wide receivers coach for the past two seasons, where he coached players like Bo Melton, who caught two passes for 18 yards and had an impressive punt return in the Senior Bowl Saturday.
But working at Pitt, Underwood knows he inherits an impressive receiver room with the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner, Jordan Addison, along with talented players like Jared Wayne, Jaylon Barden, Jaden Bradley, and incoming talents like freshman Addison Copeland and Akron transfer Konata Mumpfield. Addison obviously has the pedigree that leads the entire group, and Underwood excitedly took the job knowing he was getting such a talented playmaker.
"The resume that Jordan has built is phenomenal," Underwood said of Addison. "Hats off to coach Narduzzi and the coach who worked with him last year. They all put together a collective effort to help him. I just want to help Jordan and the rest of the receivers elevate their game. Our new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti is a great coach and I'm looking forward to teaching these guys that offense and seeing guys play in spring ball."
Underwood revealed that it was Cignetti who reached out to him about the job, and explained what his role would be as the pass game coordinator, the same role his predecessor, Brennan Marion, took when he left for Texas.
"Coach Cignetti offered me the job to be both receivers coach and pass game coordinator," Underwood said. "That means I'll be responsible for organizing our pass game concepts and my voice will have more input on putting together our game plans. To be honest, this is a first for me. I can't answer much on my roles, but in the meetings thus far, it feels good with the open dialogue we've had."
Cignetti brings 32 years of coaching experience between the NFL and NCAA where he's worked to develop offenses among Division I programs and coached major NFL quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning. All that time is seen as a valuable asset from Cignetti that Underwood can learn from and grow as a young, 34-year old coach.
"He's been phenomenal," Underwood said of Cignetti. "He has so much wisdom based off so much experience. He's been in so many different places and worked under so many great coaches. For me to be on an offensive staff with someone like that is a great opportunity to learn from him. We're all here for the same goal of winning another ACC Championship for this program and then a national championship."
Even though Underwood admits he's still unsure about the full duties of a pass game coordinator for the first time in his career, it's something he values as having a bigger seat at Pitt's coaching table to have a bigger impact on the program.
"Getting that title was very important," Underwood said. "It gives me more responsibility and I felt ready for that. That's why I'm here, to take a step forward and a step up. Coach Narduzzi has given me an opportunity I'm very grateful for."
One of the biggest goals Underwood has made for himself is to build stronger personal relationships with his receiver room to earn their trust so that he can get his messages as a coach across better.
"Just try to build relationships," Underwood said of his focuses coming into the program. "It's important to have strong relationships with our guys it helps open players' eyes to the things you're trying to teach them. When they know that you care, they trust you and that's huge."
Underwood has unique practices coming from Rutgers, including bringing his players cakes for their birthdays and having the entire receiver room celebrate with them. All his efforts are set to make a more encouraging environment for his players and build comradery.
"When I got here, the first thing I asked for was all the receivers' cell numbers," Underwood said. "The next thing I asked for their birthdays. We all know it feels good to be celebrated, but some people didn't get a birthday cake or a celebration so I look forward to making that a thing here. I'm a big ice cream cake guy."
One player Underwood looks to help feel at home sooner than later is Mumpfield, who like Underwood, joins Pitt from another Division I program. But what's made it easier for both to integrate into the program is the environment around the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex from Narduzzi's team.
"When you're a new player or a new coach, you always feel like you're the new kid at school," Underwood said. "We've all dealt with that before. But everyone in this building helps you get over that. As soon as you walk in this building, people are smiling and happy to be around each other. I love the energy in this building. That's what coach Narduzzi's built here, because it's about the people."
Another challenge Underwood knows he faces is being the program's third receiver coach in three years. Chris Beatty was the team's receivers' coach in 2020, then Marion after him in 2021. That means Addison has yet to enter a season for the Panthers while working with a receivers coach he was familiar with, but that's a challenge Underwood can relate with as he had three receiver coaches in four years playing at Rutgers before being a seventh round NFL Draft pick.
"When I met the receivers, one of the first things I said was, 'I've been in your shoes before," Underwood said. "I told them, 'you guys didn't sign up to play for me, and I've dealt with that. But I'm a resource for you guys and I want to elevate your game.' These guys have had some great years, but now we are going to get better, starting with the little things."
Underwood doesn't just want to help Pitt's receivers be more productive through the air, but also continue the strong reputation they build as run blockers last season. Even though he beat Pitt all four times he faced them in college, he noted that Pitt always had a tough reputation for being a physical football team, and that's something he was excited to join.
"I always knew if there was one thing about Pitt, it was that they would be very physical," Underwood said. "I remember facing guys like H.B. Blades, Clint Sessions and Darelle Revis. They were always tough and even though I can throw around that I was 4-0 vs. Pitt as a player, I always knew when I left those games I was going to be bruised up a bit."
As for the blocking skills of Pitt's receivers, Underwood liked their tape and wanted to further what he saw.
"They did a good job in the run game last year," Underwood said of Pitt's receivers. "What I tell our wideouts is that when we're scoring touchdowns, the offensive line is blocking for us. So then it's only right that when we run the ball we're returning the favor. If you're going to play receiver here at Pitt, you have to block."
Ultimately, Underwood's biggest challenge will be getting the receiver group to live up to the reputation built from last year, and doing so without an experienced quarterback like Kenny Pickett leading the way. But if he's able to build a strong connection between Pitt's talented receiver room and new transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis, Underwood could punch his ticket as a major coach for the Panthers in the coming years with opportunities to grow.