Much like he did in 2015 with Nathan Peterman and Chad Voytik, Pat Narduzzi is carrying his quarterback competition into the regular season.
On Monday, Narduzzi announced that both Nate Yarnell and Alabama transfer Eli Holstein would play against Kent State on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. While the 10th-year head coach didn't name a starter, saying that would be determined during this week's practices, he said they are both capable of running the offense and leading the program to wins.
"It's one of those [things] that I think is just too close to say, 'Hey, this is what it is, let's take a chance at it.' I think both of them are very capable," Narduzzi said. "I think they both are guys that can win football games for us, and I'm excited to watch both of them play."
This adds yet another chapter to a position battle that started back in the spring but has heated up throughout fall camp. Yarnell was named the starter in the spring and carried that label into fall camp. However, Narduzzi has insisted throughout camp there is a quarterback competition and has said multiple times that it is beneficial for both players. Narduzzi did admit at one point that Yarnell was in the lead but on Monday said that Holstein has gained ground since the spring.
"I believe we have two really good quarterbacks. I really do. And again, Nate was the starter coming out of spring ball, as we've talked through camp, and Eli made some major, major improvements. It's like he caught up," Narduzzi said.
Holstein was dealing with a hamstring during the spring which hampered his abilities as a dual-threat quarterback. During Pitt's media day, Kade Bell said Holstein couldn't quite push off when he needed a burst to take off out of the pocket, which hampered his abilities. However, Holstein told me then that the injury made him a better quarterback.
"I had to focus on making right decisions, throwing the ball, anticipating everything, because if something breaks down I wasn't able to get out and run," Holstein said. "I had to be really intent with protections, find my check downs and everything like that. So I feel like it's really helped me with where I am now. Even though I can run, I know where to go with the ball and everything like that."
When it comes to how the Panthers will attack Kent State, Narduzzi said that the offense won't change based on who is in the game. Narduzzi said they both have been able to operate Bell's fast-paced, high-temp offense efficiently but Bell will have conversations with both quarterbacks about what each of them can do effectively or feel comfortable doing as far as an offensive game plan goes.
"They each have things they like better, but they can operate and do everything the same. It's not like he (Bell) is going to have to change," Narduzzi said. "But instead, Nate's favorite play may be this, and Eli's is this, but they're all in the favorites. They've all practiced everything that we're going to have in the game plan."
In terms of operating the offense and moving the ball up and down the field, I do think that both quarterbacks have similar skill sets, but I also believe they have different strengths. Yarnell seems to have the stronger arm while Holstein is the more mobile quarterback. So in terms of leaning on their strengths and operating within what they do and don't like, I think you'll see slight variations between the two.
Don't expect this competition to last much past this weekend though. While he might keep his decision under wraps leading into their matchup against Cincinnati on Sept. 7, Narduzzi doesn't plan to make the same mistake he did in 2015. When recalling his decision not to name a full-time starter at quarterback until Week 3, Narduzzi said he regretted it and wished he would've made a decision sooner.
So, this time around Narduzzi wants to make a decision "as soon as possible. I don't want to drag it on. I want to do it as soon as I possibly can," he said.
