QB Eli Holstein off to historic start for Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) runs with the ball in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

After transferring from Alabama, Pittsburgh QB Eli Holstein off to historic start

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Oct 5, 2024 4:30 PM ET

Thanks to their 34-24 win over North Carolina on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Panthers are off to a 5-0 start and have already won two more games than they did during the entire 2023 season.

Perhaps even more important than the wins is the fact they seem to have found a potential superstar quarterback in redshirt freshman Eli Holstein.

Holstein is already establishing himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country and he's doing things at the start of his career that no Pitt quarterback has done since Dan Marino.

He is the first Panthers freshman quarterback since Marino to win his first five starts, per Pittsburgh Athletics' EJ Borghetti. Holstein's 381 yards on Saturday broke the school's freshman single-game record.

Pitt is 5-0 for first time since 1991.

Eli Holstein first Pitt QB to win his opening 5 starts since Dan Marino in 1979.

Holstein’s 381 passing yards broke Pitt freshman single-game record (366 by Alex Van Pelt vs. West Virginia, 1989).#HistoryWillBeMade
— EJ Borghetti (@PittBorghetti) October 5, 2024

Holstein was one of the top recruits in the country in the 2023 class and spent the season at Alabama. Instead of sticking around as a backup to Jalen Milroe, he entered the transfer portal and landed at Pitt.

The results have been great for him and the program.

After Saturday's game, Holstein has already passed for 1,564 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He has also rushed for 265 yards and three additional touchdowns.

Holstein has topped the 300-yard mark in four of his first five games. The only game he did not surpass 300 yards was against Youngstown State when he passed for 247 yards before being lifted in a 73-17 win.

That is Heisman-caliber production through five games.

It is especially intriguing for Pitt because the ACC is wide open this season. The last time the Panthers had a quarterback playing at this level was the 2021 season when Kenny Pickett led them to an ACC Championship and finished as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Three years ago, Pickett was a fifth-year senior who had four years of prior starting experience. Holstein is still a redshirt freshman and should still have his best days ahead of him. If he continues this early play, do not count out Pitt in the ACC or as a potential playoff team.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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