Inside The Panthers

New WR Coach Tiquan Underwood Letting Pitt Football Returners Help Him Adjust

Newly-minted wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood has had to lean on some returning Pitt Panthers as he transitions to a new job.

Stephen Thompson

New WR Coach Tiquan Underwood Letting Pitt Football Returners Help Him Adjust
New WR Coach Tiquan Underwood Letting Pitt Football Returners Help Him Adjust /
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PITTSBURGH -- Tiquan Underwood was dealt a difficult hand when he moved from Rutgers to become the Pitt Panthers' new wide receivers coach. The team's top pass-catcher, Jordan Addison, decided at the conclusion of spring ball that he wanted to transfer, stripping the Panthers of perhaps their best returning player. 

Underwood still thinks his group of receivers is deep, talented and capable of overcoming that loss, but it was nevertheless a rude welcome to a new job and environment. Addison's departure left a gaping hole in Pitt's wide receiver room, one that figured to be among the best in the country. It's taken a collective effort to regroup and refocus on the coming season without Addison. 

"Yes, it was together for sure," Underwood said. "I feel like the players did a phenomenal job in the summer program, working out with Coach [Stacciotti] and his staff. And the guys who were here in the spring were bringing the other guys along, get those guys up to speed."

Underwood singled out senior Jared Wayne, who served as an excellent second option for Pitt's record-setting 2021 offense. Older and with some valuable experience under his belt, Wayne helped Underwood adjust to his new job and is now taking on an important position at the head of the position group. 

"[Wayne's] done a phenomenal job taking that leadership role. you can sense it. The guys are really listening to him, following him and anytime we do a drill, he's the first guy at the line. He's just professional and I think he's only going to help our group grow."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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