Pitt Officially Adds Three Spring Transfers

After spring camp roster evaluation and departures, Pitt football added a trio of transfers from the spring portal.

On Wednesday, the Panthers announced the official signings of quarterback Cole Gonzales, tight end Justin Holmes and defensive back Zion Ferguson.

Ferguson — a 6-foot-1, 175-pound talent — became the first spring transfer portal addition from North Carolina. The former consensus four-star recruit did not see any action in his lone season with the Tar Heels and redshirted.

The Gainesville High School (Georgia) product recorded 75 tackles, eight interceptions and six pass breakups across his final two seasons of prep ball.

Pitt was one of the first schools to reach out to Ferguson in the portal and he visited no long after. He’ll slot in as a reserve corner that looks to develop in Pitt’s secondary.

Holmes joins Pitt as a grad transfer from Marshall with one season of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot, 241-pound native of Kutztown, Pa., Holmes is primarily a blocking tight end.

In his lone season at Marshall, he appeared in all 13 games with one start as the Herd went on to win the Sun Belt title. He hauled in one pass for 11 yards.

Prior to Marshall, Holmes played his first two seasons of collegiate football at Kent State and appeared in 21 games. In 2023, he played in 12 games with 20 receptions for 188 yards.

Quarterback Cole Gonzales was the most recent add to the transfer class and has a lot of familiarity with Kade Bell and his offense.

While the Ocala, Fla. native spent spring ball at Oklahoma, all of his in-game work on the field came with Western Carolina. During the 2024 season at Western Carolina, Gonzales completed 205-of-322 passes for 2,543 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also posted 212 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

As a sophomore under Bell, Gonzales tossed for 2,803 yards and 28 touchdowns — an FCS best —  to just eight interceptions as he became a finalist for the prestigious Walter Payton Award (most outstanding FCS offensive player). He also added 203 rushing yards.

His freshman campaign saw him earn Southern Conference All-Freshman team honors after he completed 102-of-161 passes for 1,336 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Gonzales, a senior, will look to provide some depth experience behind starter Eli Holstein.

Despite the three transfer signings, Pitt is still looking to land another transfer. For more on that, read here.