Pitt running back preview: who joins Desmond Reid this season?
Despite having one of the best running backs in college football, running back is still somewhat of a question for the Pitt Panthers entering fall camp.
Desmond Reid is one of the best running backs in the country, coming off an All-ACC and All-American campaign in which he didn’t miss a beat in taking the leap from the FCS to FBS level.
He was dynamic with the ball in his hands, racking up 966 yards (5.3 yards per carry) on the ground and 580 yards (11.1 yards per reception) through the air. And that’s with time missed due to injury and load management. If Reid was moving, Pitt was moving.
Reid did it all for Pitt. He was the first player since former Stanford star Christian McCaffery in 2015 to have three games of at least 50 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in a season. His 154.9 all-purpose yards per game ranked sixth in college football.
It’s hard to overstate just how good Reid was last season – and how impactful he was across all phases. His 52 receptions tied the team lead with Konata Mumpfield (he was one of the best receiving backs in all of college football), and if the Panthers needed a play, he was often there.
But what if he’s not there? Reid was forced to shoulder a heavy load last season. The Pitt coaching staff took a gamble by not bringing in a veteran backup.
Derrick Davis Jr. was the “goal line” back last season, but he suffered a season-ending injury late in the season and isn’t a lock to start camp healthy. His status this season is certainly cloudy.
Juelz Goff played in three games last season, recording 17 carries and six catches, and while I think his speed and ability to catch balls out of the backfield make him a good fit for the offense, he’s only played in three games. Ja’Kyrian Turner hasn’t played in any college games, which makes him an even bigger question despite a strong spring.
The goal should be to get Reid as many carries as possible, but if there’s an opportunity to reduce his workload (reduce the number of hits he has to endure), it would be nice to take it once in a while.
The only other options are true freshmen Jaylin Brown and Synkwan Smith and walk-on wide receiver turned running back Justin Cook. Eli Holstein will likely have his fair share of carries (second on the team last season and unlikely to change his volume of work), but Reid will be relied upon as “the guy.” Camp will be an important time to see just who else can step up and be relied upon.
I like the potential of Goff and Turner, especially this season, but it’s a risk to enter the season without a proven backup.
