<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3JTeE7_0wPOi4bh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3JTeE7_0wPOi4bh00" width="2048" height="1364" ></figure>The idea of Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein testing his luck in the transfer portal again following the season has been tossed around by some this season.Pat Narduzzi isn’t worried about it. He’s said in the past that Holstein will be taken care of in Pittsburgh, and he doubled down on that sentiment in a recent interview with Zach Gelb of SiriusXM and Audacy.“It’s always a concern, but first of all, we’re going to take care of Eli,” Narduzzi said. “Okay? That’s the No. 1 thing. We’ve got a new athletic director in Allen Greene. We’re excited about his opportunity here at Pitt to help us continue to get better in every avenue, and NIL and what we do that way with the House settlement and all that. It’s going to be critical, but besides the money, again, I’ve said this a million times, it’s not about the money. … You have to be taken care of, but happiness is important.”Holstein has found his place in Pittsburgh, battling incumbent quarterback Nate Yarnell for the starting job in the offseason and coming out with the win. And he’s been exactly what the Panthers needed this season.Pitt is 7-0 (3-0 ACC) for the first time since 1982, firmly in the mix when it comes to battling for ACC and College Football Playoff aspirations, and Holstein is a big reason for that.Holstein has completed 138-of-215 pass attempts (64%) for 1,808 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, adding 286 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and three touchdowns on the ground, this season. And while he left the Syracuse win in the fourth quarter, Narduzzi expects him to be ready to go for a crucial matchup against No. 20 SMU.Holstein is in just his second collegiate season, with seven starts under his belt, but he’s shown poise and maturity far beyond his years. Even as he’s experienced his first struggles over the last two weeks.Narduzzi is well aware of the talent that Holstein possesses, and why other programs would be interested in adding him, but he knows how important relationships are, too.“I think Eli’s really happy here. I think that’s the first thing, when you have a good culture, when you have a good team, and you like where you are and you know you’re having success,” Narduzzi said. “You’ve seen a lot of NFL quarterbacks get traded and have success somewhere else, you could say he got traded from Alabama to Pitt. But then you’ve seen those other moves that aren’t so successful. Ultimately, in the end, you want to have a good, long career in the NFL. That’s where you’re gonna make generational money, generational wealth.“And that’s what it’s all about, to be a first round pick like Kenny Pickett was and be set for life. And Kenny came back for another year, made a great decision, had the opportunity to go to Notre Dame, Notre Dame’s calling him, he’s not even in the portal and Notre Dame’s calling him, but things like that happening, that’s what’s going on in college football nowadays.”Pitt has largely done a good job taking care of its players in the NIL era, especially with the rise of Alliance 412. And with new Director of Athletics Allen Greene arriving with a focus on NIL, it’s only going to get better.</div></body>

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Pat Narduzzi Doubles Down on Pitt ‘Taking Care’ of Eli Holstein

The idea of Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein testing his luck in the transfer portal again following the season has been tossed around by some this season. Pat Narduzzi isn’t worried about it. He’s said in the past that Holstein will be taken care of in Pittsburgh, and he doubled down on that sentiment in a recent interview with Zach Gelb of SiriusXM and Audacy.