Column | Pitt football has a budding superstar

Redshirt first-year quarterback Eli Holstein couldn’t contain his excitement on the sidelines during the waning moments of Pitt football’s comeback 38-34 win over West Virginia on Saturday. Holstein flexed his arms, raised his voice and interacted with his teammates as Pitt’s defense sealed the Panthers’ victory.

Holstein’s energy was not without reason. Just moments prior, Pitt trailed West Virginia 34-24 with very little time on the clock. ESPN gave West Virginia a 98.4% chance to win with 4:35 left in the game. But Holstein took that 1.6% chance to win and literally ran with it. The redshirt first-year mounted two impeccable drives to give Pitt the win, throwing a 40-yard dime to redshirt junior receiver Daejon Reynolds to put the game within three and scrambling out of a sack for 17 yards on the Panthers’ game-winning drive. 

Without a doubt, Holstein’s performance on Saturday was the reason Pitt walked away with the win. In fact, Holstein is, at the very least, the main reason Pitt is 3-0 to start the year. The redshirt first-year has passed for 936 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season. He is no perfect quarterback, but Holstein’s potential is something Pitt has not seen since Dan Marino in the 1980s. Yes, I believe that Holstein is showing more potential than Kenny Pickett ever did in the blue and gold. 

But Holstein’s potential is no secret to those who have followed his career to this point. As a high school prospect in Louisiana, Holstein received much praise from scouts and analysts. ESPN rated him as the No. 29 prospect in the 2023 class. Holstein ultimately committed to Alabama, which is a massive accomplishment in its own right. 

Holstein redshirted with the Crimson Tide, but that exposure to the nation’s most prestigious program must have shaped him into the player he is today. Holstein looks like a real SEC quarterback — he’s confident in and out of the pocket and has the moxy to make gutsy throws. 

Take a look at Holstein’s signature play from Pitt’s Backyard Brawl win — the 17-yard rush during Pitt’s game-winning drive. Within seconds of the snap, the pocket completely collapsed around Holstein. West Virginia’s defense smothered him, but Holstein never went down. After spinning out of a tackle, Holstein made the split-second decision to scramble forward, gaining 17 yards on a play that should have ended with a West Virginia sack. That play takes skill that very few NFL signal callers possess — let alone a redshirt first-year in his third collegiate start. 

Speaking of the NFL, if Holstein keeps playing the way he does, he will certainly hear his name called next year in Pittsburgh at the 2026 NFL Draft. In fact, I see a lot of similarities between Holstein and Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen. Both possess large frames, with Holstein standing at 6 feet, 4 inches and Allen coming in at one inch taller. Holstein and Allen are also capable runners, which is a crucial element that NFL scouts look for in the modern age. I’m not saying that Holstein is guaranteed to rise to Allen’s level of prestige in the NFL, but I’m not discounting it either. 

But enough NFL talk. The real question is whether or not Holstein can lead Pitt to greatness in the near future. And to that I say, kind of? Holstein is special, but he is also young, and Pitt may not have enough talent surrounding him to get the job done late in this season. Despite its record, Pitt really did struggle in its last two games. The defense couldn’t contain the run, the offensive line gave up seven total sacks and Holstein showed his inexperience at times. Even with a budding star quarterback, Pitt probably isn’t ready to contend with the nation’s elite.

Now, assuming Holstein stays and the Panthers make serious moves in the transfer portal, Pitt could genuinely make a run at the playoffs next season. Pitt has a talented, yet unrefined team. Give it and its inexperienced quarterback time to grow before placing any concrete expectations on them. 

But I still don’t think it’s too early to say that Pitt has something special in Holstein. He shows glimpses of a true pro-ready quarterback that can lead a team to glory. Matter of fact, the redshirt first-year has already etched his name in Pitt history with the win in the Backyard Brawl, so anything else he does will just add to that legend. 

So if anyone from Pitt athletics is reading this, please heed this advice — keep Holstein around at all costs. Seriously, get him NIL deals wherever you can find them. Call up UPMC and put him on a few billboards. Get some local car dealerships to feature him in a commercial. Heck, get him on an ad to endorse the Nippon takeover of U.S. Steel. Just make sure he is still in the blue and gold for his junior year, because Eli Holstein is a special player with a bright future ahead of him.