Eli Holstein

Holstein came out of nowhere last season to emerge as one of the top passers in the ACC. After spending his freshman year at Alabama, he transferred to Pittsburgh for the 2024 season, won the starting job and immediately put up big numbers. He threw for three touchdowns in each of his first five games, also racking up 1,567 passing yards in that span. As the season wore on, his play fell back to earth, and an ankle injury also popped up that held him out of three of the Panthers' final four games. The quarterback has fully recovered, however, and is primed to improve in year two in Pittsburgh, assuming he stays healthy. Though he loses his top receiver Konata Mumpfield, as well as his top tight end Gavin Bartholomew, he returns three productive receivers (Kenny Johnson, Raphael Williams and Cencere Lee) and do-it-all tailback Desmond Reid, who amassed 966 rushing yards and 579 receiving yards last fall. With another year to marinate in offensive play-caller Kade Bell's system, and plenty of proven production around him, Holstein should be set up to finish the electric season he started in 2024 before injuries did him in. Read Past Outlooks