What Is a Realistic Expectation Level for Eli Holstein In 2025?
p/c: Gareth Patterson
Later this month, the Pittsburgh Panthers will be kicking off the 2025 college football season on August 30th against the Duquesne Dukes at Acrisure Stadium. It’s the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron since 1939.
Eli Holstein enters this season as the Panthers starting quarterback as a redshirt sophomore. Last year, Holstein opened some eyes as one of the most impressive freshmen quarterbacks during the first half. However, the play from Holstein in the second half of the season wasn’t as efficient, and on top of that, he suffered a season-ending, ankle injury.
So what realistically can be the expectations for Holstein in 2025?
For Holstein, it’s another year in Kade Bell’s uptempo style offense, with a lot of returning starters, including receivers Kenny Johnson, CJ Lee, and Raphael Williams, tight end Jake Overman, and dynamic, tailback Desmond Reid.
A couple of transfers were added to the offensive line in Jeff Persi from Michigan and Kendall Staley from Charlotte. In an interview I did a month ago with Pitt football beat writer, Amanda Godsey, she mentioned that returning starters BJ Williams and Ryan Baer lost some weight during the offseason, in an effort to move around better in Bell’s offensive scheme,
At 6’4, 225, Holstein moves around well, and can run with the ball, if nothing is available down field. He has a strong arm, along with great acceleration on throws. The one knock on Holstein is his pocket awareness.
Pitt’s offense this season has a chance to be exciting again, given the amount of talent who’ll be returning. If Holstein can improve his presence in the pocket, with even more experience, and more importantly stay healthy, then he could be a Top 1-2 quarterback in the ACC this year, as well as possibly being a Top 10 QB in the nation.