Eli Holstein doesn’t know what it’s like to not be the ACC Rookie of the Week.
Holstein, following a 73-17 win against Youngstown State to start the season 4-0, has been named the ACC Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season, the conference announced Monday. He’s won the award every week this season.
It might be time to start engraving Holstein’s name on the ACC Rookie of the Year Award at this rate. He’s been one of the best quarterbacks not just in the ACC but in the country.
Pitt scored six touchdowns in six first half possessions against YSU. The Panthers hit the halftime break with a 42-10 lead, went three-and-out on its first possession of the second half and proceeded to rattle off four straight scoring drives to end the game.
An ever-critical Eli Holstein still wasn’t entirely happy after the game.
“I think I still left two or three touchdowns out there, to be honest with you,” Holstein said Saturday after the game. “That first drive coming out of the half, made some mental errors. Trying to do too much, not just doing the little things, getting the ball in the right spot. That three-and-out coming out, that’s on me. Another drive we should’ve scored a touchdown.”
Holstein completed 16-of-24 pass attempts (67%) for 247 yards and three touchdowns, adding 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, in three quarters of work.
He’s now completed 87-of-129 pass attempts (67.4%) for 1,186 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 189 rushing yards and two more touchdowns. That’s pretty damn good.
“He knows what he’s done right or wrong,” Narduzzi said. “He gets to watch the videotape. He’s probably watched the game once already. He’ll watch it a couple more times with the iPad. He knows what he missed and didn’t miss. He came out and took that sack. He’s got to throw the ball away at the beginning of the third quarter. I think we went three and out and punted to start the third quarter.
“Again, you’ve got to love a quarterback that’s critical of himself. You’ve got to love that. He’s not thinking he’s all special and done everything the right way. That’s what you want.”
Holstein and the Panthers kick off ACC play next weekend against North Carolina, and he’ll look to continue the torrid start to his Pitt career.
