PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The accolades are not only coming but are already here. A three-time conference award-winner, quarterback Mason Heintschel threw for the most yards ever as a Pitt freshman and sixth most overall and is unbeaten as a starter. He’s getting recognized more around school and making a mark in college football.
“It’s definitely surreal, it’s a crazy feeling for sure,” Heintschel said. “I’m trying everything I can to keep the main thing the main thing and focus on ball as much as I can. There’s a lot of external factors. The main goal is to keep winning. That’s the mindset I have is to keep going into every week attacking and getting better.”
His first step to blocking out those external noises would be not getting on social media, which for any athlete is probably good advice. Even as much as you try to downplay all of it and not draw attention to yourself, there’s got to be a boost of confidence that comes with this. It adds to the swagger. Maybe even getting a little cocky with his success.
Heintschel says he does have two women in his life that work to keep him, him.
“I talked about this with my mom the other day, my sisters do a great job of keeping me grounded and keeping me humble, for sure,” Heintschel said. “They’ll give me some crap about some things, but they are also my biggest supporters. I’m so thankful for them. Without them I would be where I’m at today.”
Both sisters are older, one lives in Seattle, and is coming to the game Saturday, and the other lives in Chicago. Along with his parents they try to keep this as normal for him as possible.
“All that other stuff doesn’t matter to me,”Heintschel said. “I’m here to win games. I love these guys and I love this place. I’m focused on what we are doing right now.”
Pitt guy
Who knows what is really legal anymore in college football. It’s illegal for other programs to contact a player currently on another roster, but is that stopping other schools from at least inquiring as to Heinstchel’s future beyond 2025? Every season a college player is essentially on a one-year contract, or scholarship.
Four games into his starting career, Heinstchel said he appreciates that Pitt was there from the beginning. He said not too many people know where Oregon, Ohio is. He says when he tells people where he is from, they think it’s the state.
But Pitt knew. Offensive coordinator Kade Bell and head coach Pat Narduzzi knew. Reports the University of Michigan made a run at him right before he signed in December, but he stayed true to Pitt.
“Appreciate what Pitt did for me and what they are doing for me right now, that’s on the coaching staff trusting and believing in me,” Heinstchel said. “They took a kid from a small town in Ohio, I’m very appreciative and blessed and going to continue to try and prove everybody wrong.”
Freshman work
While the numbers are amazing, 1,243 yards and nine touchdowns in just four games, Heintschel is not a finished product. He said right after the record-setting game against North Carolina State that he left plays on the field. He should have been better.
The 18-year-old said he has freshman moments. There are rookie mistakes on tape that he hates and is hard on himself. He said he’s putting his head down and continuing to work.
“I think a big thing for me is knowing when to extend plays and when to take what the defense is giving me,” Heintschel said. “I think there are times where I try to do too much. Coaches do a great job of getting on me about that.”
Eli relationship
Last year it was freshman Eli Holstein who was the talk of Pitt fans. Transferring from Alabama, Holstein was 6-0 to start his career before injuries limited the back-half of his season. There was excitement about Holstein and he threw for eight touchdowns in the first couple of games this year. After a second straight loss, a game where Holstein threw a pair of picks against Louisville, a change was made to Heintschel.
“Eli has been great,” Heintschel said. “For him it’s such a tough situation. He’s handled it so well and done such a great job with me, just trying to help me in any way he can. I’m so appreciative of him, for sure.”
“It’s a testament to not only the type of player he is, but the type of person he is. I’m so thankful to share a room with these guys, they’ve all done such a great job of trying to help me and put me in the best situation to success. Eli has been a really great resource.”