Reid showcases ability, toughness in Pitt's offense

Eli Holstein issued a warning last week after Pitt dominated Kent State to earn a convincing Week 1 victory behind an impressive performance by Western Carolina transfer Desmond Reid saying that Reid's performance that day was just a glimpse of what he could do.

So, moments after Reid helped Pitt complete a 21-point comeback to defeat Cincinnati on Saturday at Nippert Stadium, Holstein had one thing to say about his backfield mate.

"I told y'all he was going to have a better game," Holstein said. "I told y'all last week, that's not even the best game he's going to have. He's a guy that you can just get the ball, like I said, two yards down the line and he's going to go get you 70. He's a dawg."

On this day, Reid rushed 19 times for 148 yards and also caught six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. He also became the first Panther to record over 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game.

His performance also included a 56-yard touchdown catch that brought Pitt within two points of Cincinnati with 5 minutes, 40 seconds left on the clock. 

Just watch the breakaway speed:

Reid can fly.

After the game, Reid said he knew that specific play was going to be a touchdown because of how Cincinnati's defense was lined up.

"I knew they were running man coverage, I knew I was going to be one-on-one with that linebacker, I just had to beat him and I did," Reid said. "I just know once I catch that ball, I'm out of there, so that's what happened."

Just a week ago, Reid rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries but also caught three passes for 11 yards and had an electric 70-yard punt return for a touchdown. He can change the game in a lot of different ways and currently leads the nation in all-purpose yards with 488. Reid is averaging 244 all-purpose yards per game and leads the next-best player, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, by 17 yards. Reid has tallied 293 rushing yards, 117 receiving yards and 78 punt return yards. 

Reid is also the first Panther to rush for at least 100 yards in consecutive games since 2022 and is also the first Panther to start his Pitt career with back-to-back 100-yard games since 2009. However, he has always showcased this type of ability 

During his two seasons at Western Carolina, where he played under current Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell, Reid tallied 1,723 yards and 17 touchdowns on 250 carries and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. He also caught 42 passes for 495 yards and one touchdown. He utilizes a mixture of quickness, straight-line speed and an ability to just pull away from defenders. I mean you saw that play above, now take a look at his 46-yard touchdown run from Week 1.

Straight up the middle and he's gone. 

After Pitt's win over Cincinnati, Pat Narduzzi wasn't necessarily surprised by Reid's performance and said: "Desmond Reid is a football player, I can't say enough ... His performance was outstanding, I'm sure he'll be the Player of the Week in the ACC, if he's not, something is wrong, but he's a football player."

While Reid has a plethora of physical talents, one attribute that makes him stand out most, especially to his teammates and his coaches, is his toughness. During the first two games of the season, Reid has come up limping at some point and went to the sideline to stretch after being treated on the field. On both occasions, Reid came back into the game and made some type of impact play.

Last week it was the 46-yard touchdown run and this week it was the 56-yard touchdown catch. Earlier this week, Narduzzi said Reid is one of the toughest guys he's ever been around and that has been on full display through the first two games of the season because, for Reid, it's about putting the team before himself.

"I'll do whatever I can just to help the team win," Reid said. "I knew a lot of the stuff they (Cincinnati) were going to do while I was in there so I really just wanted to help the team, so that's what I did, helped the team win. We on to the next week though."

In a revamped offense, Reid has been one of the most consistent contributors and he'll have to continue that type of production moving forward if Pitt is going to prolong its offensive success. But, if Holstein's prediction says anything, Reid still might have more in the tank.