Pitt RB Desmond Reid Earns Start Against Kent State

The Pitt running back usage last season was head-scratching, to say the least, but there’s a new offensive scheme that will utilize the backs in many different ways — and there’s a new starter.

Pat Narduzzi confirmed Thursday during his weekly presser that Desmond Reid, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound transfer running back from Western Carolina — will start against Kent State on Saturday. It’s the culmination of a strong offseason for Reid.

“He’s been explosive, he makes plays, he’s a great pass protector and he’s just been really consistent and stayed healthy,” Narduzzi said.

Aside from the quarterbacks, Desmond Reid has been perhaps the most talked about offensive player on the roster this offseason. It only makes sense that he’s getting the first series against the Golden Flashes.

Reid and Rodney Hammond Jr. were listed as co-starters on the Week 1 depth chart, and while they’re both in line for steady workloads, it might just be a three-man unit in 2024.

“Might be 30, 33 (percent split in carries), whatever,” Narduzzi said. “I’ll tell you, Derrick Davis has been impressive. I’ve told you that in the last couple of weeks. And the guy’s been a ‘War Daddy’ running back right now, so I like where he is as well.”

Reid has earned a lot of praise since arriving in January. From the coaching staff, from his teammates, from just about everyone. He’s determined to show he plays bigger than he looks.

“I’ve been hearing that since I was young,” Reid said in the spring. “I like to work when nobody else is working. I don’t even like to let people see me working, so I’ll keep that in my head. That’s what pushes me to be a better player and person.”

Reid wanted to go Power Four out of high school, as all recruits do, but his height and weight held him back a bit. He had some offers, nothing major, so he put his trust in Kade Bell at Western Carolina.

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. In two seasons at WCU, he 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.

As a sophomore in 2023, playing in just eight games, Reid was one of the best running backs in all of 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). He was an explosive home run hitter, too, racking up 30 runs of 10+ yards and 18 runs of 15+ yards.

Pitt had the worst rushing attack in the ACC last season, barely averaging 100 yards per game, and with former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. and running backs coach Andre Powell out of the picture, the running back room is going to look different this season — in usage and personnel.

Hammond led Pitt with 118 carries for 547 yards (4.6 yards per carry), but his usage was confusing, to say the least. He should, despite an offseason in which he wasn’t mentioned much, pair well with Reid. I still believe in Hammond’s ability to be a difference-maker. And Davis will certainly have more than two carries this season.

The Pitt running back unit is a wild card. I’m not sure quite what to expect, not until there’s some actual game film to watch, but it should be a more effective unit than last season.