WCU's Lamont Reid and Kevin McAlmont Get Chance to Play in NFL

Reid Goes To Tennessee Titans and McAlmont Goes To the Washington Redskins

Cullowhee, N.C. — Western Carolina football players Lamont Reid (Maiden, N.C.) and Kevin McAlmont (Union City, Ga.) will each have the opportunity to continue their football career in the National Football League (NFL). Reid, a running back with the Catamounts, has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, while McAlmont, an offensive lineman, is a free agent who will be in a rookie camp with the Washington Redskins.

Reid is the only rookie running back to sign as a free agent with the Titans, who drafted running back LenDale White (Southern Cal) in the second round and running back Quinton Ganther (Utah) in the seventh. Washington only drafted one offensive lineman (Kili Lefotu of Arizona in the seventh round) and only signed one undrafted free agent after the draft (Jasper Harvey of San Diego State). McAlmont will be one of approximately 70 prospects invited to the team’s Rookie Camp on May 5-7 at Redskins Park.

Reid played in all nine games for the Catamounts this past fall and used all his skills to perhaps be Western’s offensive MVP. He was WCU’s offensive MVP three times, including the Mars Hill, Cincinnati and Chattanooga games. He averaged 4.4 yards per rush in ‘05 and led the team with eight touchdowns. Reid ranked ninth in the SoCon in scoring (5.3 ppg), second on the team in rushing (91 rushes for 402 yards) and fourth on the team with 12 catches, averaging 11.4 yards per reception. If that was not enough, he completed his first career pass attempt, a 36-yarder to J.C. Brown, which led to Western’s final score in the Cats’ 41-21 upset over #2 Furman. (He also completed a pass to Brown versus Wofford, a 23-yarder, on Western’s first scoring drive.) In addition, he rushed 11 times for 40 yards and two TDs versus Furman, while catching two passes for 23 yards. At Cincinnati, Reid rushed 11 times for 33 yards and led the team with five receptions for 29 yards. Against Mars Hill, he rushed nine times for 59 yards (6.6 per carry). At Chattanooga, he had a career night, rushing 18 times for career-high 108 yards. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry, with a three-yard rushing touchdown on a fourth-and-one. Also, he caught one pass versus the Mocs, a career-long 63-yard touchdown. Against Elon, Reid averaged 7.0 yards per carry (63 yards on nine carries) before leaving the Elon game with a stinger. He had an excellent all-around game in Western’s 24-0 win over Wofford, scoring all three of Western’s TDs in the game and gaining 52 yards on 11 carries.

Reid was also named to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American team, recognizing his dedication to strength and conditioning. In the summer of 2005, he set a WCU strength & conditioning record with a strength index of 6.43, shattering the record of 6.22 set by Michale Spicer. On the all-time strength & conditioning lists, Reid ranks second in the back squat (675 lbs), second on the clean (380 lbs), second in the broad jump (10’3.5"), fourth in the pro shuttle (4.09) and fifth in the vertical jump (37’5"). He helped WCU win the 2004 Southern Conference Indoor Track & Field championship as he scored in the long jump (fifth place, 21’2.75") and the high jump (sixth place, 6’2.75"). At the 2004 SoCon Outdoors, he placed fourth in the high jump (6’0.75") and eighth in the long jump (21’4.75"). Reid earned All-SoCon honors during the 2005 indoor season, placing second at the SoCon Indoors in the long jump (22’8") and added a fourth-place finish in the high jump (6’2.25"). At the 2005 SoCon Outdoors, he scored in the high jump, placing fifth with a leap of 6’2.75".

McAlmont was named second team All-Southern Conference by the league’s coaches in 2005, starting all nine games 29 of his final 30 games at left guard after moving defense during his sophomore season. He helped pave the way for WCU tailback and fellow All-SoCon pick Darius Fudge, while the Catamount offense ranked third in the league in passing. McAlmont was also key in Western’s upset over #2 Furman as the Catamounts rushed for 189 yards and five TDs, including 133 yards by Fudge, who went on to earn SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Like Reid, McAlmont was also a standout in the weight room and track & field. During the summer of 2005, McAlmont set a WCU record with a bench press of 505 pounds and ran a time of 4.98 in the 40-yard dash, the best for a Catamount offensive lineman. In 2005, he scored in the SoCon Indoor Championships with a fourth-place finish in the weight throw (51’11"). McAlmont helped WCU win the 2004 SoCon Indoor Championship, scoring in the weight throw with a seventh-place finish (44’10.25").

Recently, Western Carolina has had two undrafted free agents that represented their respective teams in Super Bowls. Brad Hoover helped the Carolina Panthers reach the 2004 Super Bowl and the 2006 NFC title game, while wide receiver David Patten won three NFL titles as a member of the New England Patriots. Patten now plays with the Redskins.

Western’s Tony Jones enjoyed a successful NFL career as an undrafted free agent, winning two Super Bowls as a member of the Denver Broncos. Also, Dean Biasucci was an undrafted free agent who went on to be the Colts’ all-time leading scorer with 783 points from 1984-94. Signing with the Atlanta Falcons out of college as a free agent, Tiger Greene had a seven-year NFL career, six as a defensive back for the Green Bay Packers. This past year, undrafted free agent Nick McNeil, who originally was a practice squad member, made the postseason roster for the Redskins.

In its history, Western Carolina has had seven players drafted by the NFL, including Andrew Jordan (sixth round in 1994), Willie Williams (sixth round in 1993), Kirk Roach (fifth round in 1988), Clyde Simmons (ninth round in 1986), Louis Cooper (11th round in 1985), Eddie McGill (10th round in 1982) and Steve Williams (10th round in 1972).