Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Makes the Cut for 2024 4-Star WR Target TJ Moore’s Top 13
Tiquan Underwood has been in heavy pursuit of TJ Moore for a while now, since being the third Power Five school to offer him last September. And it’s paid off so far.
Moore — a 6-foot-3, 190-pound four-star wide receiver from Tampa Catholic High in Tampa, Florida — narrowed down an extensive list of 45 offers to just 13 Monday, and Pitt was one of the schools to make the cut.
He included Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Penn State, Colorado, Tennessee, USC, Miami and Pitt.
Where’s Home?!?🏡 https://t.co/BDgiD1WC0A
— 𝙏𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 “𝙏𝙅 ” 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙅𝙧 (@tjmoore305) April 3, 2023
It’s an extensive list of some of the heaviest hitters in college football, and with Moore’s rapid rise over the last couple of months, Pitt faces an uphill climb to secure his services.
But Pitt has already managed to land him on a couple of unofficial visits, and he’s built a very strong connection with Underwood — who is seriously prioritizing Moore.
“Pittsburgh is kind of familiar to me because I lived in Pennsylvania for a couple of years,” he told PSN before a November visit. “So, I have some type of connection up there and I knew when I got the offer that’d be an immediate option for me.
“My parents have a couple of friends in Pittsburgh, too, so that’s convenient for them. My relationship with coach Underwood is really good. He checks up on me every day. Just that fact alone puts Pitt in my top options.”
Moore was in town for Pitt’s win over Duke in November, and he made it back out again with his family for Pitt’s Junior Day on Jan. 28. And Moore’s family does like Pittsburgh, too.
“Pitt is lovely,” Moore’s father Terrence said in January. “It’s like family when we go there. They have an advantage; they’re right next to the Steelers. The coaching staff is very great. Coach (Tiquan) tells you how it is. I feel like I’ve known him forever. And it’s like cheating, dude, he played in the NFL. He knows what he’s doing.”
“There’s nothing left unturned,” Moore’s mother Alexandra said in January. “If you have any questions, ask him, he’ll tell you just how it is. Which is our approach.”
There weren’t many wide receivers better than Moore in Florida in 2022, as he racked up 45 receptions for 1,169 yards (25.9 yards per catch) and 20 touchdowns on a very good Tampa Catholic squad.
That production, matched with his size and speed and strength, has made him a prime target for wide receiver’s coaches across the country. Which, obviously, includes Underwood.
247Sports rates Moore as the 127th-ranked recruit in the class (21st-ranked wide receiver and 22nd-ranked recruit from Florida) while On3 rates him as the 186th-ranked recruit in the class (33rd-ranked wide receiver and 27th-ranked recruit from Florida).
Rivals rates him as the 38th-ranked wide receiver and the 47th-ranked recruit from Florida — holding a 5.8 Rivals Rating.
It will be pivotal to land Moore back on campus as many times as possible before his eventual commitment later this year. An official visit over the summer would go a long way.
