Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein (10) looks to throw during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
If he chooses to use them, Pat Narduzzi will have both Pitt quarterbacks available Saturday at Louisville.
Narduzzi said Thursday that Eli Holstein, who left the Syracuse and Virginia games with apparent head injuries, has been cleared medically to play. Holstein sat out the Clemson game last Saturday, and Nate Yarnell started in his place and completed 34 of 54 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked eight times in a 24-21 loss to the Tigers.
Who starts this Saturday? Who even gets in the game? Who doesn't?
"Still a work in progress," Narduzzi said. "We'll see as we get going here."
Since 2020, Narduzzi has been able to recruit and develop two quarterbacks -- Holstein from the transfer portal and Yarnell through the traditional means of signing him out of high school.
Yarnell's start against Clemson was the fourth of his four-year career at Pitt (2-2) and his first this season. He completed 79 of 120 passes (65.8%) for 1,001 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in those starts. Overall, he's 115 of 178 for 1,454 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Yarnell redshirted in 2021 before getting his first start the following year in a 34-13 victory at Western Michigan. He was the third option last year, starting the final two games after Phil Jurkovec and Christian Veilleux were benched.
After he transferred from Alabama, Holstein was a redshirt freshman sensation early this season when he threw three touchdown passes in each of the first five games -- all victories. He also totaled 1,567 yards through the air in those games.
But he has a total of only two touchdown passes and 610 yards since then, his playing time cut back dramatically by injury.
"He's cleared to play right now," Narduzzi said, without embellishment.