ESPN Does Not Consider Pitt Stars Holstein, Reid Top 25 Rookies

Pitt has benefited immensely from its midseason additions to the transfer portal, with a 6-0 start and No. 20 ranking in the most recent AP Poll rankings, and that’s largely due to Eli Holstein and Desmond Reid.

Offensive coordinator Kade Bell is the catalyst for the offensive turnaround, but it wouldn’t be possible without the players leading him.

Holstein and Reid have been some of the best players in the ACC – and in college football – this season. ESPN thinks the duo has been good, but not in the top 25.

ESPN ranked the top 50 rookies midway through the 2024 season, with Holstein checking in at 27 (the eighth-ranked quarterback) and Reid checking in at 32 (the third-ranked running back).

Holstein may be coming off the worst performance of his brief college career, completing just 50 percent of his passes and throwing two interceptions in the win against Cal over the weekend, but a poor outing shouldn’t take away from what he’s done this season. The same goes for Reid, who missed one game this season due to injury.

Holstein completed 127 of 200 pass attempts (63.5%) for 1,700 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, for 266 yards and three more scores on the ground, in his first experience of college football.

He has been exactly what Pitt needed at the most important position on the field, and that is reflected in the record. He led two fourth comebacks, including one at Backyard Brawl, and reached milestones not seen since the days of Dan Marino.

Holstein is 16th in passing yards, tied for 10th in passing touchdowns, 13th in points responsible per game and ninth in total offense in college football.

And Pitt likely won’t beat Cal without the offensive performance of Reid, who racked up 139 yards of offense and both touchdowns.

Reid has racked up 78 carries for 494 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, 25 receptions for 341 yards (13.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns and added a 78-yard punt return touchdown this season.

He is second in all of college football in all-purpose yards per game this season, earning ACC Team of the Week honors at running back and wide receiver. He missed the Youngstown State game to enter conference play 100% healthy, but has battled bumps and bruises all season.

Pitt is 6-0 for the first time since 1982, and the high-scoring offense led by Holstein and Reid, along with fellow transfers Poppi Williams, Censere Lee and Lyndon Cooper, is a major reason why.

None of the Pitt players who left the program during the offseason were included on the list.

Notable Pitt Newcomers

QB Eli Holstein – 127 of 200 pass attempts (63.5%) for 1,700 passing yards for 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, 266 yards and three rushing touchdowns

RB Desmond Reid – 78 carries for 494 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, 25 receptions for 341 yards (13.6 yards per reception) and three touchdowns and a 78-yard punt return touchdown

WR Poppi Williams — 18 receptions for 217 yards (12.1 yards per reception) and four touchdowns

WR Censere Lee — 16 receptions for 230 yards (14.4 yards per reception) and two touchdowns

TE Jake Overman – six receptions for 55 yards

Lyndon Cooper – six matches

BY Nate Matlack — 11 tackles (10 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks

BY Sincero Edwards — 11 tackles (four solo), four tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup

DE Boss Frontiers — three tackles, half tackle for loss, half sack

DT Francis Brewu — five tackles, half a tackle for loss

DT Nick James — six tackles (two solo), one tackle for loss, one pass breakup

LB Keye Thompson — 13 tackles (four solo), half tackle for loss

CB Tamon Lynum — 12 tackles (five solo), five pass breakups