Holstein Named Freshman of the Year Award Semfinalist

S. Samek

Eli Holstein of the Pittsburgh Panthers was named to another award list. He was named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award. He is one of 14 named a semifinalist for this honor.

This is the second award Holstein has been nominated for as he was also named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024 watch list. He is the lone freshman to be included on that list.

Through eight games Holstein has completed 167 of 263 passes for 2,056 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing six interceptions. He has also rushed for 305 yards and three touchdowns, which is good for second place on the team in rushing yards. All this while leading Pitt to a 7-1 record, which is an improvement over the Panthers 3-9, 2-6 2023 campaign.

His 17 touchdowns are tired for the Pitt freshman record with Alex Van Pelt from 1989. Holstein also tied Van Pelt’s record for 300-yard games as a freshman with four.

The Shaun Alexander Award started in the year 2018 and has been awarded sense then. Last year Alabama’s/Ohio State’s Caleb Downs was the winner. Drake Maye from North Carolina in 2022 was the last quarterback to win it.

Can Holstein win the award? Find out if he makes the finalists on December 4th, 2024, with the award winner being named on December 26th,2024.