Inside The Panthers

Pitt's Top QBs Impress During Spring Game

The Pitt Panthers completed their Spring Game with a wide variety of performances from their quarterbacks.

Dominic Campbell

Nov 25, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nate Yarnell (19)
Nov 25, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nate Yarnell (19) / Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers completed their spring game with a variety of performances from their quarterbacks throughout the contest.

Alabama transfer and redshirt freshman Eli Holstein started for the Gold Team in their 17-10 victory over the Blue Team. Pitt starting quarterback in redshirt junior Nate Yarnell earned the start for the Blue Team himself.

Redshirt junior and starting quarterback last season Christian Veilleux came in for the Blue Team, along with freshman and Penn Hills star Julian Duggar, plus walk-on/redshirt freshman David Lynch. Redshirt freshman Ty Dieffenbach and redshirt junior/walk-on Jake Frantl played for the Gold Team.

Eli Holstein Has Solid Outing for the Gold Team

Holstein had a slow start to the day in the victory for the Gold Team, as he had a period where he threw nine straight incompletions, one of which ended up in Blue Team redshirt junior defensive back Javon McIntyre's hands for an interception.

He put on his best performance towards the end of the first half, leading an 80-yard drive over two minutes, culminating in a six-yard touchdown pass to sixth-year running back Daniel Carter, giving the Gold Team a 10-3 lead at halftime.

Holstein completed 7-of-10 passes for 91 yards and that late touchdown on the drive. He also spread the ball out, completing passes to four different receivers during the two-minute drill.

This includes a 26-yard throw to senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew, a 19-yard pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Daejon Reynolds, and two passes to sophomore wide receiver Kenny Johnson, along with the touchdown pass to Carter.

While a 10-for-23 compeltion stat line isn't one that signifies a true starter in the ACC, Holstein showed what talents he had in high school that led to Alabama coming in for his services.

He has a great shot of securing that backup spot behind Yarnell, and with the Gold Team picking him as the second quarterback, it's likely the coaches see that the same way this fall.

Yarnell Shows Why He is the Starter for the Pitt Panthers

Yarnell played a great game for the Blue Team in the losing effort, completing 12-of-16 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.

He completed his first seven passes of the game and had a 27-yard touchdown pass in the first half to Western Carolina transfer and junior running back Desmond Reid, but a block in the back penalty negated the score.

His best throw of the day came in the third quarter, as he found redshirt freshman wide receiver Lamar Seymore streaking down the middle of the field for a 34-yard touchdown, with his pass right in the chest for his receiver to make the easy grab.

Learning new offensive coordinator Kade Bell's system is something that the players and coaches spoke on throughout spring practices, as challenging and tough for the offensive players.

Yarnell looked confident in the pocket, understood when to make good throws and delivered consistently in this spring game. If he continues to progress over the next few months heading into the fall, Pitt football will have a true starter going forward.

The Rest of the Signal Callers

Veilleux had the most disappointing day of any Pitt quarterback, throwing six incompletions with no completions.

While Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said following the game that 'stats don't matter' when it comes to the Spring Game, not having one completion, and then Yarnell having to come back in the game in the second half to keep it competitive, is a bad sign for him.

Going from the Louisville win, where he defeated the No. 14 ranked team in the nation at the time throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns just six months ago, it's wild to see him likely sink to third on the depth chart.

Dieffenbach completed four of his seven passes for 31 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown throw to Johnson, the winning score for the Gold Team.

He is unlikely to see the field this season, but it's always nice to see a good touchdown throw. Especially to Johnson, Dieffenbach's roommate, who named him the Pitt quarterback with the strongest arm.

Dugger also made an appearance, completing just one of his three passes, but he failed to get the Blue Team a late score to tie the game.

The day overall saw some great moments and some down ones as well, but the quarterback room put on a solid show overall, a good sign for Pitt football in 2024.

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

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