Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina freshman running back Desmond Reid continued to add to his list of postseason accolades today as he was named to the 2022 Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-America squad.
 
Reid was one of two players from the Southern Conference named to the Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-America team, joined by Chattanooga offensive lineman Bryce Goodner. All told, 31 players from 26 schools were named to the Freshman All-America Team. The online publication also released its postseason FCS All-America teams that included a total of 10 players from the SoCon over the three honorary squads.
   
Earlier this month, Reid earned a spot on the 2022 HERO Sports Freshman All-America team, while also finishing sixth in the national voting for the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award which is given annually to the top freshman in the NCAA's football championship subdivision. His sixth-place tally is the second-best by a Catamount rookie all-time, just behind Tyrie Adam's fourth-place finish in the 2016 tabulations.
 
The consensus 2022 SoCon Freshman of the Year from both the league's head coaches and the voting members of the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA), Reid paced the Catamounts on the ground in 2022 with 826 yards over 10 games of WCU's 11 games, averaging 82.6 rushing yards per contest – the fourth-best average in the SoCon – and scored four rushing touchdowns. He added 21 receptions for 212 yards and a score in the upset win over the nationally-ranked Chattanooga Mocs.

A product of Miami Gardens, Fla., Reid eclipsed the 100 rushing yard mark three times in 2022, posting a career-best 175 yards and two touchdowns in the home-opening win over Presbyterian. He also went over the century mark with 129 yards against The Citadel and 112 yards in the home victory over Wofford, collecting an honorable mention for the FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of the Week award from Stats Perform.
 
Reid amassed a team-best 1,038 all-purpose yards – one of just five players in the league to finish the season with a seasonal average of over 100 all-purpose yards per game. All told, Reid accumulated over 100 all-purpose yards six times on the season for the SoCon-leading Catamount offense.
 
In addition to garnering SoCon Freshman of the Year honors, Reid was also a second-team All-SoCon selection at running back by the league's head coaches, while also headlining the SoCon Offensive All-Freshman team.
 
Riding the momentum of winning three straight games including knocking off No. 15 Chattanooga to conclude the 2022 season, season tickets for the 2023 Catamount football season are on sale now both online and through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office in the Ramsey Center. Visit CatamountSports.com for more information or to order your tickets today.
 
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