Eli Holstein is one of the 14 players in the running for the most outstanding freshman in college football.
Holstein has been named a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award following the first eight games of his collegiate career. It hasn’t been easy sledding over the last few games, but it can be easy to forget his youth and inexperience.
“He’s a redshirt freshman,” Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly press conference. “I think everybody forgets … When you win, Eli is going to be the Rookie of the Week. When you lose, which obviously it’s our first, it’s not on Eli. We didn’t protect him well enough, run the ball well enough. We played a really good defense.”
Holstein is one of two players from the ACC in the running, alongside Louisville running back Isaac Brown.
He’s completed 167-of-263 pass attempts (64%) for 2,056 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, adding 72 carries for 305 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. He’s a major reason the Panthers are 7-1 (3-1 ACC) and sitting at No. 18 in the first College Football Playoff Poll.
With 17 touchdowns and four 300-yard passing performances this season, he’s already tied former Pitt quarterback Alex Van Pelt’s 1989 freshman record. With four games left this season, he should blow by any freshman records.
Even with the recent struggles, Holstein is 14th in total offense (295.1 yards/game), 23rd in passing yards per game (257 yards), 23rd in passing touchdowns (17) and 29th in points responsible for/game (15.3).
Pat Narduzzi and the coaching staff remain totally committed to Eli Holstein down the stretch. There’s a major opportunity for the Panthers to make some noise in the ACC and nationally, and it will start with Holstein.
Three finalists for the award will be announced on Dec. 4, and the winner will be revealed on Dec. 26. The formal presentation will be held at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.
Eli desperately needs a good game on Saturday. He’s been struggling for a few now.