Richard Reese Tabbed Freshman All-America by FWAA

WACO, Texas -- Baylor running back Richard Reese was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, as announced by the organization on Thursday afternoon.

Reese, a native of Bellville, Texas, was one of two running backs to earn the distinction, joining the nation’s freshman rushing leader Quinshon Judkins of Ole Miss. It is the second freshman All-America accolade for Reese, who also earned first-team honors from College Football News.

In addition to the freshman All-America nods, Reese earned a bevy of honors in 2022, including Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year from the league coaches and Offensive Freshman of the Year accolades from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Reese was named All-Big 12 Second Team by PFN and All-Big 12 Third Team from Phil Steele, and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award.

Reese finished the year ranked second in the nation among freshmen in rushing TDs (14) and fifth in rushing yards (972). He led the Bears with 198 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per tote and 74.8 yards per game during his collegiate debut season. His 14 rushing TDs ranked tied for fourth in program single-season history and was the most for a Bear since Shock Linwood had 16 rushing scores in 2014. He finished just shy of reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark and was seeking to become the 16th all-time BU standout to reach the plateau.

A 5-foot-9, 175-pounder, Reese had three games where he rushed for 100 or more yards and twice following those outings he earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors. He earned his first Big 12 Newcomer of the Week accolade with three-TD game vs. Texas State, rushing 19 times for 156 yards. Reese also rushed 31 times for 186 yards and two TDs in a win over Kansas and earned his second Big 12 honor with 36 rushes for 148 yards and three TDs in a 45-17 beatdown of Texas Tech in Lubbock.