Pitt had to “wait and see” this week with starting quarterback Eli Holstein, but Pat Narduzzi has decided that his starter is good to go.
Narduzzi announced Wednesday on his weekly radio show that Holstein has been cleared and will play against No. 20 SMU on Saturday night in Dallas, Texas. It’s a big boost for a Panthers’ squad that finished the win against Syracuse without him.
Holstein has completed 138-of-215 pass attempts (64%) for 1,808 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, adding 286 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and three touchdowns on the ground — ranked among the best quarterbacks in the country.
Pat Narduzzi has been vocal in his praise for how hard Eli Holstein has worked on and off the field since arriving from Alabama in January.
“Eli doesn’t care about the stats,” Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly presser. “He wants to win football games. I think that’s what it comes down to. But Eli is the same guy every day in practice. He is the same guy. He practices hard. He pays attention to details.
“You’re not looking at this grumpy Eli out at practice one day and the next day he’s happy and then game day he’s this and that. He’s the same person, which is what you like. You like that consistent personality. You know what you’re going to get every day. I’d say that for probably 90 percent of our football team, which is a good thing.”
Holstein has led Pitt to a 7-0 record for the first time since 1982, ranked 17th in the latest AP Poll, and while it’s not a certainty that he will play against No. 20 SMU this weekend, his play down the second half of the season will be crucial to further team success.
Pitt and SMU are scheduled to kick off Saturday at 8 p.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
Good news!