Report: Pitt to start true freshman QB Mason Heintschel vs. Boston College

Pitt will make a change at quarterback Saturday vs. Boston College, ESPN reported, as true freshman Mason Heintschel is set to start vs. the Eagles.

Coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters Thursday afternoon that redshirt sophomore Eli Holstein would remain as starter, signalling he was sticking with Holstein through a period of struggles.

While Holstein has thrown 11 touchdowns on the year, he’s also had five interceptions, including two in Pitt’s recent 34-27 loss to Louisville.

Holstein was benched in the fourth quarter last week in favor of Cole Gonzales, who was unable to spark Pitt to a game-tying score.

Three of Holstein’s five picks have also come in the end zone, while he’s thrown at least one in every game Pitt has played thus far.

Holstein, an Alabama transfer, earned the starter’s gig at Pitt coming out of fall camp last year. He led the team to a 7-0 start but suffered several injuries in the second half of the season that contributed to Pitt’s 0-6 finish.

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Heintschel, who this season has been listed as third-string quarterback behind Holstein and Gonzales, prepares to make his first collegiate start.

The Oregon, Ohio, native got his first taste of collegiate action Sept. 6 vs. Central Michigan, completing 3 of 4 passes for 36 yards after Narduzzi pulled many of Pitt’s starters.

A three-year starter in high school, Heintschel passed for 7,322 yards and 79 touchdowns in a prolific preps career.

Following a somewhat quiet recruiting process, during which Pitt joined Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green, Akron, Coastal Carolina, Liberty and Ohio in offering him, Heintschel committed to the Panthers in the spring of 2024.

• Pitt All-American running back Desmond Reid was ruled out on the pregame player availability report.

Reid, who has rushed 24 times for 142 yards and a score and has six receptions for 71 yards this season, has not played since suffering an unspecified injury in the first quarter during a loss to West Virginia on Sept. 13.