Former Pitt Star Mike McGlynn Details Rise of Eli Holstein, NIL Opportunity

Mike McGlynn returned “home” on Saturday to the place that got his career in football going — the University of Pittsburgh. He was asked to be the Pitt honorary captain for the 107th Backyard Brawl.

The native of Austintown Fitch High School in Youngstown, Ohio, committed to Pitt back in 2003 and was a four-year starter and a member of the Panther team that won the Big East title, gained a BCS Bowl berth and took on Utah in the Fiesta Bowl.

McGlynn was also on the Pitt team that destroyed then No. 2 West Virginia’s chances of playing in the National Championship game with a historic 13-9 upset.

Following his career at Pitt, McGlynn was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and went on to play in the NFL through 2015 with the Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints.

Considering that and his relationship with budding star quarterback Eli Holstein, McGlynn was a perfect selection for that honor on Saturday.

“Pittsburgh has always been home to me,” McGlynn told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “Even though I haven’t been there since I graduated, I love Pittsburgh, and it feels like a second home to me. To be involved and to be asked to be the honorary captain for the biggest rivalry game for Pitt football, it was a tremendous honor.

Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi & Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) September 14, 2024. Michael Longo/PSN

“No matter if you played in the glory days of Pitt football in the 70s or now, Pitt football is a brotherhood. There’s a mutual respect between the former Pitt players and a tremendous amount of pride. Once you play on that stage, there’s very few opportunities that you feel that energy again and where you feel those butterflies. Being in the locker room again, being around the players before the game and around that energy was special and a great experience.”

McGlynn is currently the head football coach of Lake Minneola High School, about 25 miles west of Orlando, Fla. It’s through his coaching career and his days in the NFL that McGlynn developed a relationship with the Holstein family.

“My relationship with Eli stems from coach Tom Shaw, a well-known pioneer in the strength, conditioning and speed field,” said McGlynn. “Tom has known the entire Holstein family since Scott (Eli’s father) was back in college at LSU, he trained Scott. Tom has trained both of Tom’s sons and his daughter, Mary Grace.

“When I was training in the off-season for the NFL, we all came together, whether you were an NFL professional, a college player or a high school player trying to be around Coach Shaw. He’d bring everyone down and we’d train together. So, I’ve known Eli for about seven years and through his transition up to Pitt. That’s one of the biggest things in sports is relationships and I’ve had a long relationship with him and his family, he’s a real high-character kid.”

Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) September 14, 2024. Michael Longo/PSN

Holstein is also a player who has many people excited and showing that he could be the next great quarterback at Pitt.

Anyone would be impressed with his stats through games (939 yards, nine touchdowns and 67.6 completion percentage) but it goes beyond the numbers. Despite being a freshman, Holstein has shown the impressive quality of not focusing on a bad play or series and moving ahead to the next play. That’s easier said than done but he’s been able to do that in fourth quarter double-digit comeback victories on the road against Cincinnati and West Virginia.

“It’s a mental toughness. If you look at the last two games when it comes to in critical situations, his accuracy, his completion percentage, his scrambling, his ability to extend plays,” said McGlynn. “When it comes to his mental mindset, he’s locked in and is very mature in that space. Keep in mind, he’s only a redshirt freshman, 19 years old and you see these characteristics that jump out to you.

“And then his competitive spirit, his fire. With the score 7-3, he goes down into the red zone, runs for about 10 or 15 yards in front of the Panther Pit and comes up with energy and emotion to signal first down. As a leader at that position, your teammates feed off that. Also keep in mind, his reps with the first team were about four weeks ago in preparation for Kent State, that’s not a lot of time. In just a short sample size, you see the characteristics that he displays, I’m excited to see his continued progress. He has it all, the toughness, the grit, the moxie, the characteristics and talent that you seek at that position.”

As his performances get better, Holstein will continue to receive plenty of attention throughout the college football world. However, if you’re worried about all that going to his head, it won’t happen.

“He’s going to handle it just like he’s handled everything up to this point, he’ll attention the attention like a pro. When it comes to success, he’s getting a lot of good press in Pittsburgh and nationally on ESPN, his name is popping up now. That won’t change Eli, he’ll remain focused on his job and the next task at hand. The biggest thing with him is his preparation, which has always been impressive. No matter what is happening, he won’t get too high or low, he’ll remain right in the middle and continue to do the things that have made him successful.”

If Pitt is going to continue winning and growing as a program over the next few years, Holstein will no doubt be a huge ingredient. But the Panthers will need more than him. McGlynn believes that in this new era of college football, Pitt has a chance to seriously compete, but something has to happen first to allow them to do that.

Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Daejon Reynolds (3) September 14, 2024. Michael Longo/PSN

“There needs to be a focus on NIL, there needs to be a gameplan for NIL. I know when it comes to our new athletic director search, that is going to be one of the highest priorities,” said McGlynn.

“The biggest thing is being aware of where we need to go moving forward. As a program, we need to make sure we’re progressive, there’s an objective and a goal for us of where we want to go in this evolution of college athletics and NIL. I believe NIL has brought parity to college football, which is good to see. For us as a program, the chancellor needs to be progressive in her search for an athletic director. When it comes to the program, coach Narduzzi, what he’s been able to do and adapt to things and the evolution of football. He’s mindful of what he needs to do to take this program to a higher level, competing for ACC Championships and making the college football playoffs. That’s the goal.”