For 1st time since Kenny Pickett, Pitt starts season with continuity at quarterback

Continuity at quarterback has been elusive of late for Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi.

In 2024, when Alabama transfer Eli Holstein earned the starting job heading into Week 1, he became the third quarterback in as many years to begin a season for the Panthers since Kenny Pickett’s final campaign in 2021

Having the same guy back under center comes with obvious benefits, and Narduzzi is excited about the continuation at a critical position.

“When you look back at guys (we) had in their second year, it’s been a while since we had a two-year quarterback, from (Kedon) Slovis, to Phil (Jurkovec), to last year, to before him, (it) was Kenny. So it’s nice to go into Year 2. … That’s always special when you’ve got that continuity.

“There’s nothing better than you’re going into the season knowing what Eli has done, what kind of football player he is. We’re not sitting there wondering what’s going to happen on game day. I think we all have a pretty good idea. … But we’re fired up to have him for Year 2.”

Heading into last year, it was anyone’s guess as to how new coordinator Kade Bell’s offense would work for the Panthers.

Bell, overseeing Western Carolina’s offense for three years before joining Narduzzi’s staff, was the architect of a high-powered system, as the Catamounts led FCS in total offense (504.1 yards per game) during his final season there.

But translating that system to the FBS, with a new quarterback in Holstein running it, created its fair share of question marks.

Ultimately, it didn’t take long for Bell and Holstein to forge an impressive partnership.

Through the Panthers’ first eight games, the offense averaged 444.8 yards.

The second half of the season, which included six straight losses to end the year, was no doubt dissatisfying, but the encouraging overall results on offense lend optimism to what Holstein, tailback Desmond Reid, receiver Kenny Johnson and others can do in Year 2 under Bell.

For Pitt’s second-year coordinator, the experience and reps gained by his key players in 2024 offers a strong foundation.

“Going into the season last year, Eli didn’t really start getting first-team reps until the week before the first game,” Bell said. “Having a guy coming back that knows the system, that now understands, ‘Hey, the ball’s in your hands — this is where we’re trying to get to as a quarterback.’ … It helps me.

“This year, we can put more on the quarterback, whether it’s checking into another run, checking into another play or changing the protection to pick up a blitz and now we’re taking a shot down the field — just giving our guys more freedom to take their game to another level.”

Eli Holstein -> freshman tight end Max Hunt on Day 2 of Pitt’s fall camp: pic.twitter.com/zZ1bCh2aKy

— Justin Guerriero (@GuerrieroTrib) July 31, 2025

Narduzzi has not hesitated to refer to Holstein as his QB1.

That came as no surprise once Holstein confirmed he’d return to Pitt in February.

However, the depth chart behind Holstein is wide open after backups Nate Yarnell (Texas State) and Penn Hills’ Julian Dugger (Washington State) departed the program.

Narduzzi restocked his room with true freshmen Beau Jackson and Mason Heintschel, along with redshirt sophomore David Lynch, who started the GameAbove Sports Bowl last December.

But the betting favorite to earn the QB2 spot may be newcomer Cole Gonzales, a redshirt senior who joined the program at the end of spring ball.

Gonzales was Bell’s quarterback at Western Carolina in 2023 and enjoyed a standout campaign, throwing for 2,803 yards and an FCS-high 28 touchdowns.

The Catamounts starting quarterback again in 2024, Gonzales transferred to Oklahoma in December and spent a few months with the Sooners before re-entering the transfer portal and committing to Pitt.

“What he brings to the room as a new guy is the offense he knows,” Narduzzi said. “He’s played in the offense. He’s accurate. He’s got some stuff to him. … Just his leadership, his knowledge of the game of football, the experience he has, and again, his knowledge of our offense is going to really get him up to a point where he can compete for a job.”

Holstein is excited to take his own game, as well as the offense, to new heights in Year 2.

“Nothing’s really changed,” Holstein said. “Same expectation is to go undefeated, win a championship, complete the ball, get the ball to our playmakers and let them make plays for us.”