Pitt FB Recruiting
Former Western Carolina RB Desmond Reid Commits to Pitt
Kade Bell ran an electric offense at Western Carolina over the last few seasons, and Desmond Reid served as his top option out of the backfield. And now they’ll both be at Pitt next season.
Reid — a 5-foot-8, 170-pound running back from Western Carolina — officially committed to Pitt Saturday afternoon following an official visit to Pittsburgh over the weekend.
Pitt extended an offer to Reid after he hit the portal on Dec. 6, and with the connection between Bell and Reid, it was an easy choice to make an official visit.
Committed #H2P pic.twitter.com/wEK1fcr1fw
— Desmond Reid (@fastboidez) December 17, 2023
“When (Bell) got the job at Pitt, I was excited because I knew he loved the way I play and would want me to play in his offense no matter where he went,” Reid told PSN.
“When he called me and let me know that they were offering me, I was excited because that’s Power Five, ACC. I know coach Kade would give me a chance to showcase my talent.”
Reid was originally a lowly-recruited three-star out of Miramar High School in 2022, and he selected Western Carolina over South Dakota, FAMU, FAU and Tusculum. And in two seasons at WCU, he’s racked up 250 carries for 1,723 yards (6.9 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns — adding 42 receptions for 495 yards and another score.
He’s coming off back-to-back 800-yard seasons at Western Carolina and was awarded the 2022 SoCon Freshman of the Year honors.
He received offers from Arkansas State, Florida A&M, FAU, Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Georgia State, Miami (Oh.) and Coastal Carolina since entering the transfer portal earlier this month, but that connection with Bell was enough to lock in a commitment.
As a sophomore in 2023, playing in just eight games, Reid was one of the best running backs in the FCS. He was elusive, forcing 40 missed tackles on just 131 carries, but he also racked up 536 yards after contact (4.39 YAC/attempt).
Reid was an explosive home run hitter, too, racking up 30 runs of 10+ yards and 18 runs of 15+ yards.
He isn’t the biggest back out there, but he’s an explosive athlete with two seasons of eligibility left at the collegiate level. And there’s a chance
“Kade (Bell) told me that all the coaching staff loved my film and they wanted me to be a part of the team,” Reid said. “I’m just looking to see if that’s the best place for me. I want to be a part of a program that I can call home and I feel like Pitt can be that place.”
Pitt lost C’Bo Flemister and TJ Harvison this offseason, to exhausted eligibility and the transfer portal, respectively, but there’s a strong base already in place. Rodney Hammond Jr. announced he would return for the 2024 season, and there’s an expectation that he should pop in an offense led by Bell.
Derrick Davis Jr., Daniel Carter and Montravius Lloyd are also returning, and three-star commit Juelz Goff is scheduled to sign with the Panthers in just over a week.
