#88

Justin Holmes

TE · Pittsburgh · Sr. · #88

Returning to Pittsburgh for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Justin Holmes

TE · Pittsburgh · Sr · #88

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1670 national
CFB
College
3 teams
2022–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025

1 coach
2022
Pittsburgh
2023
Pittsburgh
2024
Pittsburgh
2025
Pittsburgh

Played his entire career under Pat Narduzzi.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2022Kent State5-7HC: Sean Lewis · Run-leaning
2023Kent State1-11HC: Kenni Burns · Run-leaning
2024Marshall10-3HC: Charles Huff · Run-leaning
2025Pittsburgh8-5HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Pittsburgh2830110.84--
2024Marshall11111.00--
2023Kent State201889.40--
2022Kent State----------
Career4950010.24--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 13 · 2025

W 42–28

at Georgia Tech

1 rec · 19 yds · 1 TD

Edged out Georgia Tech on the road in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Shows up in the passing game from any alignment.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Pittsburgh

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Tight end · Pittsburgh

Returning around him

  • 75% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • 1 Pittsburgh player drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -5 net (16 in / 21 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Pittsburgh · Last season: 8-5 (AP #24) · Talent rank #56 · 2026 recruiting class #44

DNA match

Player DNA

Complete TE

No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.

TE

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Christian Trahan’s 2022 season.

Houston · 2022

#2

Tristen Tewes

Northern Illinois · 2022

78%
#3

Lance Mason

Wisconsin · 2025

All-Big Ten
76%
#4

Henry Pearson

App State · 2022

All-Sun Belt
75%
#5

Kamari Morales

North Carolina · 2022

75%

Matches Christian on

Weight
Reception volume
TD rate

Differs from Christian on

Yards / reception (higher)

Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Daniel Barker’s path through Michigan State.

Michigan State · 2022

#2

Joey Beljan

Western Kentucky · 2022

74%
#3

Tyrick James

Tulane · 2022

70%
#4

Grayson Gunter

Southern Miss · 2021

67%
#5

Ben Yurosek

Georgia · 2024

66%

Matches Daniel on

Recruiting rating
Yards per reception
Weight

Differs from Daniel on

Height (lower)
20232025

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Lance Mason's senior season at Wisconsin (2025).

Lance Mason

89%match

Wisconsin · 2025

All-Big Ten
#2

Dallas Payne

Florida International · 2025

78%
#3

Shane Calhoun

East Carolina · 2023

77%
#4

Justin Joly

NC State · 2025

All-ACCNFL Rd 5
76%
#5

Josh Kattus

Kentucky · 2025

75%

Matches Lance on

Reception volume
TD rate
Total EPA (college ability)

Player DNA

Players who play like Justin Holmes

#1

Joey Beljan

Western Kentucky · 2021

74%
#2

Daniel Barker

Illinois · 2021

73%
#3

Tyrick James

Tulane · 2021

70%
#4

Grayson Gunter

Southern Miss · 2021

67%
#5

Trey McBride

Colorado State · 2021

64%

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #540

Final rank
#551
Avg #575.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #540 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2023–2025
1882023
11.02024
3012025

+60%

Up 60% from first season to most-recent.