#1 Desmond Reid, running back
Class: Sophomore
Measurables: 5-8/170 pounds
Hometown: Miami Gardens, Fla.
High School: Miramar
Notes: Collected numerous awards after a banner freshman season in Cullowhee. The Southern Conference’s head coaches and voting media selected Reid as the consensus league Freshman of the Year. SoCon coaches also voted Reid to the second-team all-conference list …
Other post-season honors included HERO Sports Freshman All-American and 2022 Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American. He finished sixth in the voting for Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, given to the nation’s top freshman.
Played in 10 games for Western Carolina year ago, earning 826 yards on 119 carries. He scored four touchdowns. His career best came against Presbyterian on Sept. 17 — 175 yards and two touchdowns. Also rushed for 129 yards against The Citadel and 112 against Wofford … Proved solid in the passing game as well, earning 21 receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown …
Helped Western Carolina to a 6-5 season, the school’s first winning campaign in football since 2017. Scored on a 20-yard run and a 5-yard catch in the season finale, a 32-29 upset of then No. 15 Chattanooga …
Named to HERO Sports Top 25 Returning Running Backs In 2023 list, coming in at No. 14.
Reid will face an SEC defense in this year’s season opener; the Catamounts go to Arkansas on Sept. 2. The Catamounts’ home debut will come a week later when Samford visits for a White Out Whitmire game.
