2024 Football Roster
Eli Holstein
- Position:
- QB
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 225
- Hometown:
- Zachary, LA
- High School:
- Zachary
2025: Was 21-of-28 for 304 yards and four touchdowns vs. Central Michigan, leading the ACC in passing TDs for the week...he paces the league in passing efficiency (199.99) and touchdowns (8) and is the first Pitt QB since 2003 to throw four-plus TDs in each of the first two games of a season...in week one, threw four touchdown passes (15-of-23, 215 yards) for the first time in his career, becoming the first Pitt quarterback to do so since Kenny Pickett in 2021, while also rushing for 41 yards.
2024: Enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in January 2024 following a transfer from Alabama…started all 10 games he played in, missing three full contests due to injury (Clemson, Boston College and the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Toledo)…completed 62% of his passes (180 of 291) for 2,228 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions…his 17 TD passes tied the Pitt freshman record set by Alex Van Pelt (1989)…was also Pitt’s second-leading rusher with 328 yards and three TDs on 81 carries (4.0 avg.)…named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award…five-time ACC Rookie of the Week (Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Youngstown State and North Carolina)…led Pitt past host North Carolina, 34-24, compiling 457 yards in total offense and accounting for four touchdowns…threw for a Pitt freshman-record 381 yards (25-of-42 passing) with three touchdowns and one interception, and also was the Panthers’ leading rusher against the Tar Heels with 76 yards and a TD on 10 carries (7.6 avg.)…named Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week for his North Carolina performance…against West Virginia, Pitt trailed, 34-24, with less than five minutes remaining when Holstein led touchdown drives of 75 and 77 yards to give Pitt a stirring 38-34 win…he completed 70% of his passes (21 of 30) for 301 yards and three touchdowns against the Mountaineers, while also rushing for a team-high 59 yards...named ACC Quarterback of the Week and Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week for his West Virginia performance…in Pitt's 28-27 win at Cincinnati—a game the Panthers trailed 27-6 late in the third period—Holstein threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns with an interception on 20-of-35 passing…directed Pitt to a 73-17 demolition of Youngstown State, compiling 340 yards in total offense and accounting for five touchdowns…completed 67% of his passes (16 of 24) for 247 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, while rushing for 93 yards (the most by a Pitt QB since 2014) and two TDs on nine carries (10.3 avg.) against YSU…in his collegiate debut, a 55-24 win over Kent State, Holstein completed 75% of his passes (30 of 40) for 336 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
AT ALABAMA (2023): Did not play in any games and redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Highly regarded quarterback prospect who threw for 7,014 yards and 62 touchdowns against just 13 interceptions as a three-year starter at Zachary…also rushed for 1,233 yards and 30 touchdowns during his career…as a senior, threw for 2,153 yards and 22 touchdowns with only three interceptions, while also rushing for 505 yards and nine TDs…as a junior, led team to a 15-0 record and the Louisiana Class 5A state championship after throwing for 3,228 yards and 30 touchdowns, while rushing for 523 yards and 14 TDs…Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) Class 5A Most Outstanding Offensive Player…MaxPreps Louisiana Football Player of the Year…played under Coach David Brewerton…rated the nation’s No. 29 overall prospect and No. 5 pocket passer by ESPN…rated the nation’s No. 9 pro-style quarterback by Rivals and No. 11 by On3 and 247Sports…rated one of Louisiana’s top 10 overall prospects by ESPN (No. 2), On3 (No. 5), 247Sports (No. 6) and Rivals (No. 8)…selected to play in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
PERSONAL: Son of Scott and Amy Holstein…has one brother and one sister…father lettered as a punter at LSU in 1993...brother, Caleb, was a quarterback at Louisiana Tech...exercise science major.
