Indiana Expected To Poach Offensive Coach From NFL Team
12/20/2024 09:46 AM
Coming off their best season in school history, the Indiana Hoosiers are just hours away from kicking off their College Football Playoff run. But Indiana are set to lose one of their key coaches in the upcoming offseason and are eyeing a rising NFL star to replace him.
Last week it was announced that Indiana's co-offensive coordinator and QB coach Tino Sunseri would be leaving the Hoosiers to take on the same role at Big Ten rival UCLA. Sunseri has worked alongside head coach Curt Cignetti for the last four years dating back to his time at James Madison.
According to ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Indiana is expected to hire Atlanta Falcons passing game specialist Chandler Whitmer to replace Sunseri in both roles. Whitmer has never held a position that high before, but he's worked as a graduate assistant at both Ohio State and Clemson, and as an offensive quality control coach with the Los Angeles Chargers.
"Sources: Indiana is expected to hire Atlanta Falcons Pass Game Specialist Chandler Whitmer as QB Coach & Co- Offensive Coordinator. Current QB coach Tino Sunseri will continue with IU through the playoffs," Thamel wrote.
"Whitmer has worked as an offensive quality control coach for the Los Angeles Chargers, where he worked with the quarterbacks. He's also been a graduate assistant on offense at Ohio State and Clemson. He's a former college quarterback at UConn and Illinois."
Whitmer has worked as an offensive quality control coach for the Los Angeles Chargers, where he worked with the quarterbacks. He's also been a graduate assistant on offense at Ohio State and Clemson. He's a former college quarterback at UConn and Illinois.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 20, 2024
After Raheem Morris left the Los Angeles Rams to become the new head coach of the Falcons earlier this year, Whitmer was one of several coaches from the Chargers to follow him out of L.A.
Whether he has the talent to take over a key job at a college football power conference with limited experience in a role that big anywhere else remains to be seen.
While some fans are excited to see Whitmer join the Hoosiers, others have pointed out that his work with Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins this season leaves much to be desired:
"Helped develop Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and our sweet prince Michael Penix. That's a home run, folks," one user remarked.
"Falcons passing game is NOT good so why they want him?" another asked.
"Worked with Justin Fields at OSU in 2019, Trevor Lawrence at Clemson in 2020, and with Justin Herbert from 2021-2023 for the Chargers. Solid body of work for a young coach. #iufb," a third wrote.
Do you think Whitmer will be a good fit for the Hoosiers?
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