Former Alabama QB Eli Holstein wins Pittsburgh Panthers starting job

The 2023 recruiting class will go down as one of the best in Alabama Crimson Tide history with eight members ranked as top 50 players in the country, including guys like Kadyn Proctor, Keon Keeley and Caleb Downs. The class is also of notice because Saban brought in two quarterbacks, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan, which he doesn’t typically do.

Alabama’s quarterback room was loaded in 2023 with Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, Tyler Buchner and Lonergan all seeing playing time. After seeing Lonergan get reps ahead of him, I think Holstein read the writing on the wall as he entered the transfer portal just two days following Alabama’s Rose Bowl loss. Four days later he transferred to join the Pittsburgh Panthers – a few days before Nick Saban’s shocking retirement.

Today, Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi announced that the redshirt freshman will be the starter for Pittsburgh this weekend as they open the season against Kent State.

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