The Pitt football team kicks off its season on Saturday afternoon at home against Kent State, with Alabama transfer Eli Holstein set to lead the Panthers. Holstein, who committed to the Crimson Tide out of high school and spent the 2023 season with Alabama, transferred to Pitt during the offseason and will start in Saturday’s game.
“Sources: Pitt redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein will start the season opener against Kent State,” Pete Thamel shared in a post. “Holstein, an Alabama transfer, was ranked among ESPN’s Top 30 overall recruits in the Class of 2023.”
As a recruit, Eli Holstein was ranked as the #88 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class by 247 Sports. He was the #8 quarterback in the class and the #5 player in Louisiana. Holstein attended Zachary High School in Zachary, Louisiana. Although he didn’t see game action during his time with Alabama, his high school scouting report from 247 Sports’ Gabe Brooks highlighted his impressive attributes.
Brooks noted Holstein’s “big build” and growth to 6-foot-4 between his sophomore and junior years. He praised Holstein’s “excellent combine testing athleticism,” which was repeatedly demonstrated over two offseasons, including a strong showing at the Elite 11 Las Vegas in May 2022. Holstein’s passing abilities, particularly in the short-to-intermediate range, were lauded for their velocity and accuracy. Brooks also pointed out Holstein’s improved mobility and athleticism as a junior, which made him a more effective scrambler and capable of keeping defenses on their toes with designed runs.
In terms of arm strength, Holstein was described as having the ability to stretch the field with throws exceeding 50 yards. However, Brooks mentioned that while Holstein possessed “extremely high arm strength/velocity capacities,” he was still adjusting to his larger frame and could work on quickening his delivery. Overall, Brooks projected Holstein as a high-major quarterback prospect with the potential to become a multi-year starter and an NFL Draft candidate.
