Inside The Panthers

Pitt Makes QB Change vs. Boston College

Pitt Panthers make quarterback change vs. Boston College.

Dominic Campbell

Nov 16, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nate Yarnell (19) passes against the Boston College Eagles during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nate Yarnell (19) passes against the Boston College Eagles during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers will make a change at quarterback heading into their final regular season game of 2024 against Boston College.

Brent McMurphy of Action Network reported that redshirt junior quarterback Nate Yarnell will start for the Panthers vs. Eagles, in place of starting quarterback, redshirt freshman Eli Holstein.

Holstein took a sack in the first quarter in the 37-9 blowout loss against Louisville and went down with an injury. Medical staff tended to him and had to put an air cast on his left leg. They would also bring out a cart for him and take him off the field.

He would return to the sidelines, but didn't play the rest of the game. Redshirt junior quarterback Nate Yarnell came in and completed 11-of-23 passes for 96 yards, along with one touchdown and one interception and three rushes for 12 yards.

Walk-on redshirt freshman quarterback David Lynch closed out the game for the Panthres for the final two drives and will likely serve as backup to Holstein.

Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi said that the injury wasn't season-ending, but didn't say whether he would play vs. the Eagles or not. It's likely he has a chance to play in the bowl game.

This was the third game that Holstein had to leave early for Pitt this season, doing so in the 41-13 win at home vs. Syracuse after suffering hard hit out of bounds in Week 9 and in the 24-19 loss to Virginia at home in Week 11.

Holstein would play the following week after Syracuse vs. then ranked No. 20 SMU on the road in Week 10, but didn't perform well in the 48-25 loss, completing 29-of-48 passes for 248 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

He would rush five yards and slide down on a drive in the third quarter, but Virginia junior linebacker Trey McDonald hit Holstein late and hard. He took off his helmet and medical personnel rushed off to help him out.

The officials would disqualify McDonald, after determing the hit qualified for a targeting penalty.

Yarnell had to come in and struggled, completing just 4-of-12 passes for 44 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions in the defeat vs. the Cavaliers.

Yarnell would have to start for Pitt vs. Clemson in Week 12, with Holstein still not medically cleared for the game.

He improved his play, as he completed 34-of-54 passes for 350 yards and one touchdown and an interception in the 24-20 loss to the Tigers. He almost lead the Panthers to a victory, but a late defensive touchdown and poor final drive doomed them.

Holstein received medical clearance ahead of the game vs. the Cardinals and got the start. He led a good first drive for the Panthers, but would throw an interception in the end zone, giving the Cardinals the ball back.

He has completed 180-of-291 passes this season, 61.8%, for 2,228 yards and 17 touchdowns to seven interceptions in 10 games. He also ranks second on Pitt with 328 rushing yards on 81 carries, 4.0 yards per carry, and three touchdowns on the ground.

His 17 touchdown passes and four 300-yard passing games rank tied for the most by a Pitt freshman since Alex Van Pelt in 1989.

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 is also on two award watch lists, including the Davey O'Brien Award, which recognizes the best quarterback in college football, and the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.

Holstein beat out Yarnell for the starting job in the week leading up to the first game of the season, a 55-24 blowout of Kent State at home on Aug. 31.

Yarnell had started three games prior to Clemson this season for Pitt, a 34-13 win on the road over Western Michigan on Sept. 17, 2022, a 24-16 victory over Boston College on Nov. 16, 2023 and then a 30-19 loss to Duke on Nov. 25, 2023.

His game against the Eagles was one of the best he's played in college, as he led a 2-8 team to victory, completing 11-of-19 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown and five carries for 24 yards and a touchdown too.

Pitt will look to end their four game losing streak vs. Boston College and end the regular season with a win.

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

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