CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina freshman running back Desmond Reid was listed Thursday on
the initial watch list for the 2022 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football’s championship subdivision. Reid is one of 25 first-year players on this year’s watch list and the only one from the Southern Conference.
Reid is the sixth Catamount since 2014 to grace the watch list for the nation's top freshman, joining LB Daniel Riddle (2014), P Ian Berryman (2015), QB Tyrie Adams (2016), DB Ronald Kent Jr. (2018), and DB Andreas Keaton. Adams finished fourth in the national voting back in 2016, the highest finish for a Catamount nominated for the national award.
The Miami Gardens, Florida, native has seen action in six games and leads the team with 453 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He ran for a team-high 69 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut at Charleston Southern. Two weeks later in WCU’s home opener against Presbyterian, Reid gashed the Blue Hose defense for a career-best 175 yards and two scores.
Reid also has 10 receptions on the season for 86 yards including a season-long 30-yard snag at Georgia Tech.
The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Miami Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a freshman must be in his first or second academic year and can’t have surpassed four games played in the previous academic year – similar to the NCAA’s regular redshirt rule. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Western Carolina (3-4, 1-3 SoCon) returns home for back-to-back home games, first hosting The Citadel Bulldogs (1-5, 1-3 SoCon) Saturday at Bob Waters Field / E.J. Whitmire Stadium on Heroes Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
2022 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Watch List
Quarterback
Ashur Carraha, Stonehill (Northeast)
Cade Chambers, Indiana State (MVFC)
Gevani McCoy, Idaho (Big Sky)
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany (CAA)
Noah Walters, North Alabama (ASUN)
Running Back
Ryan Butler, Princeton (Ivy)
Karl Ligon, Southern (SWAC)
Joshua Pitsenberger, Yale (Ivy)
Sam Franklin, UT Martin (Ohio Valley)
Desmond Reid, Western Carolina (Southern)
Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin (WAC)
Wide Receiver
Seth Anderson, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Vinson Davis, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Makai Jackson, Saint Francis (Northeast)
Kam Thomas, Austin Peay (ASUN)
Tight End
Josh Cuevas, Cal Poly (Big Sky)
Defensive Line
Kevin Spelman, Valparaiso (Pioneer)
Linebacker
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah (WAC)
Kaiden Jones, Nicholls (Southland)
Max U’Ren, North Carolina Central (MEAC)
Mason Woods, Towson (CAA)
Defensive Back
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown (Patriot)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (Big Sky)
Adrian Maddox, Alabama State (SWAC)
Punter
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana (Big Sky)