Yes, Pitt tight end Gavin Bartholomew can catch, but he also contributes in other ways

While climbing the status ladder among the best quarterbacks in college football, Pitt redshirt freshman Eli Holstein has learned to be an equal opportunity dispenser.

Six pass catchers have at least 14 receptions for at least 117 yards each. Already, seven have caught touchdown passes.

Meanwhile, Holstein has thrown for more yards in his first five games (1,567) than Florida State’s Jameis Winston (1,441) did in the same time frame — also as a redshirt freshman — during his Heisman Trophy-winning season of 2013. Pitt has the No. 3 passing game in the ACC, sixth in the nation (an average of 340.4 yards per game). Completed passes average 13.6 yards per catch.

Contrary to the old adage that says when you put the football in the air, three things can happen and two of them are bad, Holstein’s results, despite three interceptions, have been good.

Somehow, amidst the wealth of offensive riches No. 22 Pitt (5-0, 1-0 ACC) has enjoyed, tight end Gavin Bartholomew keeps drawing the short straw — at least in terms of personal stats. It’s been like that for his three seasons as a starter. To the point where coach Pat Narduzzi called him “probably the most unlucky tight end in the country.”

Bartholomew has caught 14 passes for 117 yards. His totals last year were 18 and 326 in 10 games. Running back Desmond Reid, the leader at 24, and four wide receivers have caught more than Bartholomew.

Tight ends coach Jacob Bronowski said the situation became a funny moment recently among his players.

“We were laughing about in our meeting,” Bronowski said. “After we were laughing, he said, ‘You know, coach, I don’t really care. We’re winning right now.’”

And that’s the point. Narduzzi continually talks about his players’ team-first attitude being a big reason for the strong start to the season. Bronowski said it’s important for the team’s leaders to carry that attitude into the locker room.

“He’s very, very unselfish,” the coach said. “That’s what you always want to see from your leaders.”

But this is not a case of Holstein deliberately avoiding his big tight end when he drops back to pass. Actually, he’s hard to miss at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds.

“I’ll be honest,” Bronowski said. “We’ve made him a focal point. We’ve called some things for him. Maybe coverages change, whatever it may be.”

Narduzzi understands Bartholomew can be a weapon, but he likes to see passes thrown to several different players.

“It comes down to just being smart with the football. You’d like to take some shots and throw it down the field and distribute it more. But at the end of the day, I want the (pass) completed,” he said.

“We’re not worried about who gets it. What’s the smart play? If you watch the plays where (Bartholomew) is open, we got chances to get him the ball. We’d like to get Gavin more, but for whatever reason it just doesn’t work out that way. There’s a lot going on, pass rush, blitzes.

“You can’t pre-determine, ‘I want to get him some catches so I’ll throw it over that way.’ That’s where you make mistakes.’

“It all depends on what (defensive players) are doing. It’s not like we’re throwing the ball to (one) guy. They have to worry about everybody.”

Befitting a man of his size, Bartholomew gets plenty of attention from the defense in the red zone.

“Big tight end, you’re going to be a focal point,” Bronowski said.

Bartholomew contributes in other ways — during practice, in games and off the field as a leader. Bronowski said Bartholomew blocked a North Carolina defender 3 yards into the end zone on Holstein’s tiebreaking touchdown run in the fourth quarter Saturday.

“He’s been doing more, bringing other guys along, helping out with (freshman tight end Malachi Thomas). On days when it’s a little bit slow in practice, he’s being loud. He’s being vocal.”

Bronowski’s only message to Bartholomew is a simple one that is not unlike what he tells every player in his room.

“‘Just keep preparing the right way, keep taking care what you can control and the ball’s going to find you,’ ” he said he told him. “The football gods are pretty good to people who play hard and work hard.”