Eli Holstein Scouting Report: Pittsburgh QB | 2026 NFL Draft Prospect

Jun 19
7 min read

Name: Eli Holstein

Position: Quarterback

School: University of Pittsburgh (transferred from Alabama, 2024)

Height/Weight: 6’3.5”, 225 lbs

Class: Redshirt Sophomore (2025 season)

Hometown: Zachary, LA

High School: Zachary High School

Recruiting Rank: 4-star recruit, #69 overall, #8 QB in 2023 class (On3 Consensus)

Draft Range Summary: Projections range from early second round to late Day 2, reflecting Holstein’s dual-threat upside tempered by inconsistency and ball security concerns.

• PFF: 2nd round, QB5 (May 2025)

• Pro Football Network: 2nd round, QB4 (May 2025)

• NFL.com: 3rd round, QB6 (Jan 2025)

• ESPN: 2nd round, QB5 (May 2025)

• CBS Sports: 3rd round, QB7 (Mar 2025)

• The 33rd Team: 2nd round, QB5 (Mar 2025)

• Combine Data/Unofficial Times: No official NFL Combine data available (as of June 5, 2025). Elite 11 testing (May 2022): 4.58-second 40-yard dash, 133.56 SPARQ score, indicating elite athleticism, per @SSN_Alabama. High school stats included 6,974 passing yards, 79 TDs, 15 INTs, and a Louisiana 5A state title (2021), per 247Sports.

Career Background

Eli Holstein, a four-star recruit, led Zachary High School to a 15-0 record and a Louisiana 5A state championship as a junior, earning MaxPreps Louisiana Player of the Year (2021), per 247Sports. Committing to Alabama over Texas A&M and LSU, he redshirted in 2023, seeing no game action behind Jalen Milroe, per rolltide.com. Transferring to Pitt in January 2024 after Milroe’s return, Holstein won the starting job over Nate Yarnell, leading Pitt to a 7-3 record in 10 starts (missing two games due to injury), throwing for 3,024 yards and rushing for 317 yards, per ESPN. Returning for 2025 under coach Pat Narduzzi, Holstein aims to elevate his draft stock in Pitt’s spread offense, leveraging receivers like Censere Lee, per pittsburghpanthers.com.

Career Stats (Through 2024 Season)

• 2023 (True Freshman, Redshirt, Alabama): Did not play (redshirted) (Sports Reference)

• 2024 (Redshirt Freshman, Pitt): 238/364 (65.4%), 3,024 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INTs, 317 rushing yards, 4 TDs (PFF 2024)

• Career Totals (1 Season): 238/364 (65.4%), 3,024 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INTs, 317 rushing yards, 4 TDs

Advanced Stats (2024, PFF 2024):

• PFF Passing Grade: 85.0 (top-25 FBS)

• PFF Rushing Grade: 79.8

• QBR: 156.7 (NCAA, top-20)

• Total Offense: 3,341 yards, 25 total TDs, 4 INTs

• TWP Rate: 2.5% (9 TWP on 364 aimed passes), below median (~3.2%), moderate turnover risk

• Adjusted Completion %: 70.9% (238 completions + 20 drops / 364 aimed passes), near median (~70%), solid accuracy

• Sack Rate: 7.7% (28 sacks on 364 attempts), above median (~5.0%), reflecting pressure struggles

• Penalties: 3, near median (~2), minor clock management issues

• Drop Rate: 5.5% (20 drops), near median (~6.0%), slightly impacting completion %

Awards and Accolades

• High School:

• MaxPreps Louisiana Player of the Year (2021)

• Louisiana 5A State Champion (2021)

• College:

• Four-time ACC Rookie of the Week (2024)

• PFF Preseason All-ACC Second Team (2025)

Character and Leadership

Holstein’s resilience shone through his transfer from Alabama to Pitt, seizing the starting role and leading a 7-3 record, per tuscaloosanews.com. His captain-like leadership, rallying Pitt to a comeback vs. West Virginia (10 points in under 5 minutes), earned teammate praise, per @CarterCritiques. No off-field issues reported, with X posts highlighting his poise and work ethic, per @Pitt_FB. His community involvement, though less documented, includes high school mentorship programs, per 247Sports. Pitt’s 5.5% drop rate (20 drops, 2024) slightly impacted his stats, per PFF.

Injuries

Holstein missed two games in 2024 (Weeks 8–9) due to a lower-body injury, returning without reported setbacks, per pittsburghpanthers.com. His 6’3.5”, 225-pound frame offers durability, but a high 7.7% sack rate (28 sacks) and 9 fumbles (3 lost) indicate vulnerability to pressure and ball security issues, per PFF 2024. Health maintenance in 2025 is critical, per NFL Draft Buzz.

Play Style

Holstein is a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm, excelling in Pitt’s spread offense with RPO elements under Pat Narduzzi. His arm talent (8.3 YPA, 2024) delivers accurate short-to-intermediate throws (70.9% adjusted completion), with 20 big-time throws (top-15 FBS), per PFF. Athleticism (317 rushing yards, 4 TDs, ~10% scramble rate) fuels RPOs and scrambles, highlighted by a 93-yard rushing game vs. Youngstown State, per ESPN. His pocket navigation shows flashes (e.g., sliding vs. WVU), but inconsistent poise (7.7% sack rate) and drifting under pressure (60.3 PFF grade) lead to unnecessary scrambles, per nflmocks.com. Ball security issues (9 fumbles) and a slow release affect rhythm, though a 2.5% TWP rate reflects solid decision-making, per @karlis_alex.

Strengths

1. Arm Talent: Strong arm with velocity (8.3 YPA, 20 big-time throws), per PFF.

2. Athleticism: Dynamic dual-threat (317 rushing yards, 4 TDs), per ESPN.

3. Accuracy: 70.9% adjusted completion, precise short-to-mid throws, per PFF.

4. Football IQ: Effective RPO reads, quick progression work, per On3.

5. Clutch Play: Led comeback vs. WVU, strong 4th-quarter stats (15/17, 289 yards), per @PantherLair.

Weaknesses

1. Pressure Handling: 60.3 PFF grade under pressure, drifts unnecessarily, per nflmocks.com.

2. Ball Security: 9 fumbles (3 lost), high sack rate (7.7%), per PFF.

3. Release Speed: Slow delivery disrupts rhythm, per @karlis_alex.

4. Experience in Big Games: Limited success vs. ranked teams (0-2, 2 TDs, 1 INT), per PFF.

5. Consistency: Inconsistent deep accuracy (34.1% on 20+ yards), per PFF.

Limitations

Holstein’s inconsistent poise under pressure (60.3 PFF grade) and high fumble count (9) raise concerns about NFL readiness, particularly against aggressive defenses. His limited mobility in structured plays (4% designed run rate) caps his dual-threat upside, tying him to spread or RPO-heavy systems. His 0-2 record vs. ranked teams (e.g., SMU, Clemson) and modest big-game stats (2 TDs, 1 INT) highlight inexperience, per PFF. With one full season as a starter (10 starts), Holstein needs 2025 to refine pocket presence and deep-ball accuracy to climb draft boards, per The Athletic.

Player Comparison

• Comparison: Mitch Trubisky (6’2”, 220 lbs). Trubisky’s dual-threat ability, strong arm (7.7 YPA, 2016), and functional mobility (4.67 vs. ~4.58-second 40, 439 vs. 317 rushing yards/season) mirror Holstein’s 6’3.5”, 225 lbs frame, 8.3 YPA, and 2024 performance. Both thrive in spread/RPO systems, with solid short-to-mid accuracy (65.4% completion for Holstein) but inconsistent pressure handling (60.3 PFF grade). Trubisky’s early-career ball security issues and big-game struggles (2016 UNC tape) reflect Holstein’s 2024 tape, capturing his raw upside with developmental needs, per PFF and @karlis_alex.

College Scheme Experience

Holstein’s college career spans two programs with distinct offensive schemes, shaping his dual-threat development:

• Pittsburgh (2024–Present, Spread with RPO Elements): Pitt’s 2024 offense, coordinated by Kade Bell under head coach Pat Narduzzi, is a spread system (60% 11 personnel, 65% pass rate) emphasizing RPOs (15% of plays), play-action (20% of dropbacks), and an up-tempo pace (2.1 plays/minute), per PFF 2024. The scheme leverages Holstein’s athleticism (317 rushing yards, 10% scramble rate) for RPOs and designed runs, as seen in his 93-yard rushing performance vs. Youngstown State, per ESPN. His arm talent (8.3 YPA) targets short-to-mid routes (70.9% adjusted completion) in four-wide sets, producing 20 big-time throws (top-15 FBS), but the system’s reliance on quick reads exposes his slow release and pressure struggles (7.7% sack rate, 60.3 PFF grade under pressure), per @PantherLair. In 2025, Bell’s system, which yielded 3,024 passing yards in 2024, will continue to emphasize Holstein’s dual-threat skills, per pittsburghpanthers.com.

• Alabama (2023, Pro-Style with Spread Elements): As a redshirt freshman at Alabama in 2023, Holstein saw no game action, practicing in a pro-style offense with spread elements (50% 11 personnel, 60% pass rate) under head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, per rolltide.com. The scheme, designed for Jalen Milroe (8.0 YPA), featured heavy play-action (25% of dropbacks), deep shots (15% of passes 20+ yards), and limited RPOs (5% of plays), per PFF 2023. Holstein’s practice reps focused on pocket passing, pre-snap adjustments, and progression reads, less suited to his elite athleticism (4.58-second 40), but enhancing his football IQ, per tuscaloosanews.com. While his lack of game experience limits direct impact assessment, the pro-style exposure provided a foundation for structured passing, complementing his later success in Pitt’s spread system, per On3.

Off-Field Considerations

Holstein’s resilience shone through his transfer from Alabama to Pitt, seizing the starting role and leading a 7-3 record, per tuscaloosanews.com. His leadership, rallying Pitt to a comeback vs. West Virginia, earned teammate praise, per @CarterCritiques. No off-field issues reported, with X posts highlighting his poise, per @Pitt_FB. His high school mentorship programs add to his character, per 247Sports. Pitt’s 5.5% drop rate (20 drops, 2024) slightly impacted his stats, per PFF.

Draft Outlook and Recommendations

Eli Holstein’s dynamic 2024 season (3,024 yards, 21 TDs, 317 rushing yards) and transfer to Pitt position him as a high-upside 2026 NFL Draft prospect. His dual-threat ability and arm talent suggest franchise QB potential, but inconsistent pocket presence, fumbles (9), and limited big-game success require refinement. In 2025, under Pat Narduzzi, Holstein must leverage Pitt’s spread offense and receivers like Censere Lee to prove consistency against ACC defenses, per SI.com. A strong 2025 could push him into the first round, per PFN, while stagnation risks a Day 3 slide, per CBS Sports. With two years of eligibility, his 2026 declaration depends on 2025 growth, per ESPN.

• Personal Draft Recommendation: 2nd Round (2026). Holstein’s arm talent, athleticism, and low TWP rate suggest a high-ceiling starter, but his fumbles and pressure handling need 2025 improvement to climb into the first round. Could benefit from another season in college after the 2025 season.

Final Evaluation

Eli Holstein’s dual-threat dynamism, strong arm, and clutch flashes make him a compelling 2026 NFL Draft prospect with franchise QB upside. His 2024 breakout at Pitt highlights a high ceiling, but ball security issues and big-game inexperience demand refinement for an early-to-mid 2nd round selection. In a spread/RPO system, Holstein’s play mirrors Mitch Trubisky’s athletic, high-risk passing, offering a developmental starter with significant potential.

Sources

• PFF 2024 QB Stats

• PFF 2023 QB Stats

• Sports Reference

• Bleacher Report

• ESPN

• NFL Draft Buzz

• Pro Football Network

• The 33rd Team

• NFL.com

• CBS Sports

• The Athletic