Texas Tech football assistant CJ Ah You taking NFL job: Reports

The big season that Texas Tech football edge defenders David Bailey and Romello Height put together yielded rewards for their position coach, too.

C.J. Ah You has accepted a job coaching the same position for the Pittsburgh Steelers, CBS Sports national writer Chris Zenitz reported on Thursday, Feb. 5. The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero also reported such a move was expected.

Ah You has been part of Tech coach Joey McGuire's staff from the beginning, being hired in February 2022. This season, the Red Raiders finished 12-2, won the Big 12 championship and made the program's first appearance in the College Football Playoff, losing an Orange Bowl quarterfinal to Oregon.

The Red Raiders finished tied for sixth in the FBS this season with 41 sacks, getting 14 1/2 from Bailey and 9 1/2 from Height. Bailey was a unanimous all-America choice from the five outlets recognized by the NCAA. Height was named first-team all-Big 12 by the conference's head coaches and second-team all-conference by The Associated Press media panel.

Ah You's departure means the Red Raiders' front four will be under new leadership in 2026. On Wednesday, Feb. 4, a Tech athletics spokesman said defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch's one-year contract expired at the end of January and he's not being renewed. Fitch has been speculated as a potential candidate for the Southern California staff. USC hired former TCU head coach Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator two weeks ago, and Fitch both played and coached under Patterson with the Horned Frogs.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football assistant CJ Ah You taking NFL job: Reports