Unless it’s garbage time and Pitt is leading by a considerable margin, Pat Narduzzi doesn’t want to think of a scenario in which he would have to replace Eli Holstein at quarterback.

That situation arising at any point this fall would be an ominous development for the Panthers, who saw their stellar 7-0 start to the 2024 campaign crumble, in significant part, as a result of Holstein’s unavailability because of an injury in the last month-plus of the season.

But it’s Narduzzi’s duty to fill out his team’s depth chart, and quarterback is no different than any other position.

As fall camp continues, Narduzzi identified the player he would turn to in place of Holstein: Cole Gonzales, who only joined the Panthers in late April after transferring from Oklahoma, where he spent the spring 2025 semester.

Gonzales’ quick ascension on the depth chart, which includes freshman Mason Heintschel and redshirt junior David Lynch, comes via his familiarity with Kade Bell’s offense. Gonzales played under Bell at Western Carolina from 2021-23.

“He’s done an outstanding job out there,” Narduzzi said of Gonzales. “It’s just fun to watch him. He’s a competitor, he’s tough and it’s really helped us out. To not have him in the spring, if he was just coming in here and didn’t have a clue, he’d be way behind. But he’s way ahead of where he should be based on that relationship he’s had in the past.”

Gonzales’ decision to commit to Pitt made sense, given his familiarity with Bell’s scheme, but also raised a key question: Why join a program already boasting an anointed starter?

A standout with the Catamounts at the FCS level who threw for 6,682 total yards and 51 touchdowns, Gonzales is less concerned about Holstein starting than he is about doing his bit to help Pitt however he can.

“It’s just come in and compete,” Gonzales said of his role. “That’s everywhere you go. You’re going to compete at the highest level of the game, and I want to just do whatever I can do to help this team win. If my role is going in with the 1s, the 2s, 3s, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to go in there and give it my best shot to make this team better. At the end of the day, I just want to win games.”

After compiling 2,803 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2023 with Western Carolina — he earned SoCon Offensive Player of the Year honors — Gonzales missed the final month of last season with an injury.

By year’s end, he knew he wanted to enter the transfer portal, and Oklahoma soon made him an offer he found too enticing to pass up.

While Gonzales acknowledged that his former coordinator, Bell, had been the first to call him last winter upon entering the transfer portal, he announced a commitment to Oklahoma on Christmas Day.

However, several months later, after rehabbing with the Sooners, Gonzales had a change of heart.

When Oklahoma wrapped up spring ball, Gonzales re-entered the portal, and, again, Bell was after him. This time, Bell was successful.

Pitt Athletics Pitt quarterback Cole Gonzales takes part in a 2025 preseason workout at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.  

“It didn’t feel right when I got there,” he said. “I think I was starstruck in the moment that I had an opportunity to go play at Oklahoma, but when I got there and was going through spring, I was like, ‘I love it, but I know where I’m really supposed to be.’

“When spring was done and the portal reopened again, Kade was right there to call me right again. I was super thankful that he hit me up.”

To be sure, Bell didn’t pursue Gonzales out of pure altruism.

Pitt needed a replacement for Penn Hills grad Julian Dugger, who showed flashes in the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Toledo but transferred at the end of spring.

“(Pitt) had a couple guys leave here, Nate (Yarnell) and Julian Dugger, but they needed another guy,” he said. “When they had an opportunity, I think (Bell) wanted to come get a guy who already knows your system instead of having to teach somebody a whole new offense after the missed spring. That was one of their main focuses, that I already know the offense, and that I was available.”

Upon touching down in Oakland, Gonzales was excited to reunite with Bell and Desmond Reid, his former Western Carolina teammate who emerged as one of the top tailbacks at the Power 4 level after he transferred to Pitt in 2024.

Gonzales also played with receivers Poppi Williams and Censere Lee with the Catamounts, adding to the familiar faces awaiting him at Pitt.

“When I got here back in May and I was fully enrolled, they came up and gave me a big hug,” Gonzales said. “It’s like family. You spend years with them, playing with them and learning and teaching with them every day. It’s like seeing your brother you haven’t seen in a long time.”

Something for Narduzzi to monitor continuously this fall is Gonzales’ eligibility.

Gonzales and his family, including his dad, Billy, a longtime coach who oversees Florida’s wide receivers, believe two years of college football remain.

But Narduzzi recently relayed to reporters at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that things are more up in the air, with Gonzales needing to wait until season’s end to potentially petition the NCAA for an additional year.

Regardless of Gonzales’ long-term eligibility, with a bit more than two weeks left until Pitt’s season opener Aug. 30 vs. Duquesne, Narduzzi has determined his QB2.

“Right now, Cole would be that guy, just because of his experience,” Narduzzi said.

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