Desmond Reid

NFL Draft Profile: Desmond Reid

Position: Running Back | School: Pitt (via Western Carolina) | Class: Senior

Height: 5'8" | Weight: 175 lbs | Archetype: Elusive / Receiving Back

College Career Summary

Desmond Reid’s collegiate path is a masterclass in production over pedigree. After two prolific seasons at Western Carolina (FCS), where he was the SoCon Freshman of the Year, Reid followed offensive coordinator Kade Bell to Pittsburgh for the 2024 season. He immediately became a national sensation, becoming the first player since Christian McCaffrey to record three games with 100+ receiving and 50+ rushing yards in a single season.

In 2025, Reid entered the year with high expectations but was hampered by lower-body injuries that limited him to just 7 games. Despite the missed time, he remained a high-impact "weapon" rather than just a running back, highlighted by a historic 88-yard punt return TD and a dominant multi-score performance against Florida State. He finished his career with nearly 3,000 rushing yards and over 1,300 receiving yards, officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft in late December 2025.

2025 Regular Season Stats

• Rushing: 60 Carries, 278 Yds, 2 TD (4.6 avg)

• Receiving: 23 Receptions, 317 Yds, 2 TD (13.8 avg)

• Punt Returns: 5 Returns, 105 Yds, 1 TD (21.0 avg)

• Career Totals: 2,965 Rush Yds, 1,391 Rec Yds, 33 Total TDs

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rush/Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Duquesne	145 All-Purpose / 2 TD	A+	The Spark. 53-yd rush TD and an 88-yd PR TD.
2	vs Cincinnati	46 Rush / 69 Rec / 0 TD	B+	High-level utility in a close win.
3	@ West Virginia	6 Rush / 30 Yds / 0 TD	C+	Left early with a lower-body injury; limited snaps.
7	@ Florida State	45 Rush / 155 Rec / 2 TD	A+	The Apex. Dominant return from injury; 200 scrimmage yds.
8	@ Syracuse	6 Rush / 38 Yds / 0 TD	B-	Efficient on limited touches in a road win.
9	vs NC State	13 Rush / 41 Yds / 1 TD	B	Solid red-zone contribution; physical for his size.
12	vs Notre Dame	5 Rush / 12 Yds / 6 Rec / 63 Yds	B-	Smothered by elite defense; impact limited to check-downs.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Leadership: Lead-by-example veteran; his decision to stay at Pitt in 2025 despite transfer offers showed immense loyalty.

• Mental Toughness: Battled back from a mid-season injury to post his best numbers of the year against a ranked FSU.

• Competitor: Plays with a massive chip on his shoulder due to being under-recruited out of high school.

• Star Power: When he is on the field, the defense must shift coverage. He is a "gravity" player.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 78/100

• Height/Weight: 5'8", 175 lbs. (Fail. Well below the 5'10"/215lb targets).

• Stamina: Capable of high-volume games (32 carries in 2024), but 2025 showed signs of wear.

• Durability/Injury History: Major Concern. Missed 5+ games in 2025 with lower-body issues; frame may not support NFL "bell-cow" usage.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Ball Security: Excellent. High-volume career with very few fumbles.

• Vision: Elite. Navigates traffic like a veteran; sees lanes before they open.

• Contact Balance: Surprisingly good for 175 lbs; uses a low center of gravity to slip arm tackles.

• Catching: Elite. Natural hands; can run a full WR route tree from the slot or backfield.

• Pass Block: High effort but physically limited; NFL blitzers will overwhelm his 175lb frame.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Speed: 4.39 (Estimated). Verified home-run speed in the open field.

• Agility/COD: Strength. Can stop on a dime and make three defenders miss in one sequence.

• Acceleration: Sudden. Reaches top speed instantly.

• Break Tackle: Relies on "misses" rather than "throughs." Extremely difficult to touch in space.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 94/100

• Awareness: High. Understands leverage and is a master of setting up punt return lanes.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Game-changing explosiveness; elite receiving versatility; dynamic return specialist; high football IQ and vision.

• Weaknesses: Sub-optimal frame for interior NFL rushing; significant injury history in 2025; size creates a liability in pass protection against NFL-sized linebackers.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for West Coast or Spread offenses that utilize RBs as slot receivers (e.g., Dolphins, Lions, Chiefs).

• NFL Comparison: Tarik Cohen / Darren Sproles.

Scout's Final Word

"Desmond Reid is the 'lightning' every NFL coordinator wants. While his 175-pound frame and 2025 injury history will push him into the Day 3 conversation, his tape at Florida State is undeniable. He is a matchup nightmare who can catch 50+ balls and return punts for scores. Teams will draft him not as a 'running back,' but as a 'weapon.' Projected: Round 6–7 / Priority UDFA."