PITTSBURGH — Pitt Panthers senior running back Desmond Reid comes back in 2025 as one of the most exciting players in college football, which teams across the country noticed after the last season.
Reid spoke with David Hale of ESPN and said that more than a dozen teams reached out to him to transfer, but he turned them down.
He said that the reason he stayed was his loyalty to Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell, who brought him along from Western Carolina ahead of the 2024 season.
“Coach Bell offered me at every job he’s had. I fit his play style. I wasn’t listening [to anyone else]," Reid said to Hale.
Des Reid said he had more than a dozen teams reach out to him after the season hoping he’d transfer, but said loyalty to OC Kade Bell, who’d brought him to Pitt from Western Carolina, meant he had no intention to ever leave. “Coach Bell offered me at every job he’s had. I fit his…
— ️♈️ (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 23, 2025
Reid transferred from Western Carolina, where he excelled with Bell in his spread system, with 250 carries for 1,723 yards and 17 touchdowns and 42 catches for 495 yards and on touchdown in 18 games in two seasons.
He showed his talent in the season opener against Kent State at home, leading Pitt with 10 rushes for 145 yards and returning a punt for a 78-yard touchdown. He also broke through the Kent State defense for a 46-yard rushing touchdown, running right past any defender that came remotely near him.
Reid had an even better game against Cincinnati in the River City Rivalry on the road in Week 2.
Reid finished with six catches for 106 receiving yards and a touchdown and had 19 carries for 148 yards, recording the first game a Pitt player had 100+ yards receiving and rushing. His best play came in the fourth quarter, as he took a pass from quarterback Eli Holstein and ran 56 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead down to just two points.
He earned ACC Running Back of the Week honors for that performance, and led Pitt on a comeback, down 27-6 in the third quarter, to win 28-27, their largest comeback in more than 50 years.
Reid also earned ACC Wide Receiver of the Week honors in the 34-24 road win over North Carolina in Week 6 on Oct. 5.
He had 18 carries for 55 yards on the ground, but starred as option in the passing game for Holstein, making 11 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
The Pitt offense struggled in the 17-15 win vs. Cal in Week 7, but Reid had a 72-yard rushing touchdown, plus one from five yards out for two scores.
Reid finished with a season-high 165 rushing yards on 32 carries and ran for a touchdown in the loss to Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit.
He ended the season with 184 carries for 966 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and five touchdowns, 52 catches for 579 yards and four touchdowns and 13 punt returns for 159 yards and the touchdown vs. Kent State, in 11 games.
His 154.91 all-purpose yards per game ranked tied for fifth in the FBS with Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks.
Reid earned All-American Honors from CBS Sports, The Athletic, Phil Steele and the Associated Press as an all-purpose back.
He also received a Second Team All-American honor from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and ESPN. He earned All-ACC First Team honors as both all-purpose and return specialist and an All-ACC Honorable Mention at running back. AP also named him as All-ACC First Team All-Purpose back.
Pitt will need Reid healthy and at his best, if they want to have the best season they can in 2025.
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