Josh Allen Inspires Pitt's Eli Holstein

New Pitt Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein is eager to show that he can play like an NFL superstar.

PITTSBURGH -- Newly-minted Pitt Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein hasn't played a down of college football yet and he's barely gotten time to learn the offense his new team is installing, but one thing that new offensive coordinator Kade Bell told him made his ears perk up. 

"Coach Bell always talks about ‘Hey, you don’t have what you want, take off. You can run too.’" Holstein, who's just finishing up his first month as a Panther. "You’re not just to sit back there and find someone to throw it to. You can take off and I’m sure there’s going to be some designed runs - zone read, stuff like that - which is something that I’ve always done, done in high school, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Holstein, who met with local media in Pittsburgh for the first time since his transfer this week, said the opportunity to run the ball has him as excited as anything else about his new home in the Steel City because, since high school, he's tried to emulate Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Holstein sees some of himself in the explosive play abilities Allen possesses and is excited to demonstrate that when he hits the field for spring practice.

Make no mistake - Holstein expects a pass-heavy offense under Bell's new scheme - but that goes hand in hand with the freedom to make plays with his legs. Holstein hasn't played in a live football game since high school but he amassed 1,233 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns during a three-year career as a starter at Zachary High School in Louisiana. And at 6'4 and 237 pounds, he rivals Allen's 6'5 and 238-pound frame. 

Holstein got to play the part of a power-running quarterback during his one year at Alabama, when he ran the scout team. In Week 7, with a trip to Arkansas on deck for the Crimson Tide, Holstein got to play the part of K.J. Jefferson, the Razorbacks' 6'3 and 247-pound signal-caller, a role he thrived in and loved playing. 

"I’m not as big as him, but just a big guy that can run and throw and I got popped a couple times here or there by some big dudes coming to hit me," Holstein said. "Kind of brought me back to what football’s all about so that was a lot of fun.”

Holstein knows he has a long way to go before he can compete for time on the field, with Pitt set to bring back two quarterbacks who started multiple games for them last season. But he's eager for the chance to work and learn as he gets a fresh start in Pittsburgh. 

"I just got here so those guys are definitely going to be in front of me because they have plenty of experience," Holstein said. "So I’m just going to come in here and learn as much as I can, grow as much as I can because there’s a lot of stuff I want to work on in my game that I feel like Coach Bell, Coach Narduzzi and everyone can help me in that aspect."

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