Inside The Panthers

Pitt Gives Injury Update on QB Eli Holstein

Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi gave an injury update on Eli Holstein.

Dominic Campbell

Oct 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) warms up for a game against the Syracuse Orange at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) warms up for a game against the Syracuse Orange at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images / Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein left during the 41-13 win over Syracuse, sparking concern over the young star going forward.

Holstein ran 13 yards on a quarterback keeper and went hard out of bounds after a tackle from Orange redshirt junior safety Duce Chestnut early in the fourth quarter. He went into the medical tent and then left and went into the locker room.

Redshirt junior quarterback Nate Yarnell took over for Holstein for the rest of the game in his abscence.

Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke postgame on Holstein, that he didn't suffer a serious injury and that they wanted to keep him out for his safety going forward.

"Eli is going to be fine," Narduzzi said. "He's in there smiling, happy, jumping around. So we'll be fine. Just added precaution. Kept him out. At first we just thought he had dirt in his eye. It was a little bit more than dirt, but he's fine and happy."

Holstein completed 11-of-15 passes for 108 yards vs. Syracuse, including a 20-yard touchdown to junior wide receiver Censere "C.J." Lee in the second quarter and a 29-yard pass over the middle to redshirt junior wide receiver Raphael "Poppi" Williams Jr. to start the fourth quarter, before departing.

Holstein came to Pitt this offseason, transferring from Alabama. He has thrived in new Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell's scheme and has changed the way the team operates on the attack.

He had completed 127-of-200 passes, 63.5%, for 1700 yards and 15 touchdowns to five interceptions coming into this game. He also had 56 carries for 266 yards, 4.8 yards per carry, and three touchdowns.

Holstein has earned ACC Rookie of the Week five times, Davey O'Brien Award Weekly honors twice and Walter Camp Award Weekly honors once.

He played a big role in comebacks in back-to-back games vs. Power Four opponents. He led three touchdown drives and the last drive for the game-winning field goal on the road vs. Cincinnati in Week 2, after Pitt was down 27-6 midway through the fourth quarter.

Holstein also led two touchdown drives late vs. rival West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl in Week 3 at Acrisure Stadium, to end a 10-point deficit with five minutes remaining, and win 38-34.

He had another great games in the 34-24 win vs. North Carolina on the road on Oct. 5. He completed 25-of-42 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns to one interception, while also leading Pitt on the ground with 10 rushes for 76 yards and one touchdown, giving him four scores in the victory.

The 381 passing yards is the most for a Pitt freshman quarterback in a single game, breaking the record of 366 passing yards that Alex Van Pelt set against then ranked No. 9 rival West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl in a 31-31 tie in Morgantown on Sept. 30, 1989.

His only game where he struggled in was against Cal, completing 50% of his passes and throwing two interceptions.

The 7-0 start for Pitt is the best since 1982, when Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino was a senior.

Pitt will hope Holstein is good to go and at full strength as they take on their first ranked opponent of the year in No. 22 SMU on Nov. 2 in Dallas.

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

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