BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football quarterback Austin Reed has signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.
Reed started all 26 games he appeared in during his two years with WKU after transferring from West Florida. As a Hilltopper, he threw for 8,084 yards and 71 touchdowns on 678-of-1073 passing with 22 interceptions. He also rushed for 324 yards and 12 touchdowns on 133 attempts as a Hilltopper. Reed finished his WKU career ranking fourth in program history in pass attempts (1,073), third in pass completions (678), fourth in passing yards (8,084), tied for sixth in completion percentage (.632), second in touchdown passes (71), third in yards (8,410), and tied for eighth in wins as a starting quarterback (16).
Reed started at quarterback in each of WKU's 12 regular-season games during the 2023 season. He threw for 3,340 yards and 31 touchdowns to 11 interceptions on 289-of-470 passing, and had 10 games with multiple touchdown passes thrown. Reed also ran for 100 yards and four touchdowns on 42 attempts. He threw for a season-high 392 yards in WKU's win over Sam Houston on Nov. 18 and posted three games with four touchdown passes – against Houston Christian, against Liberty, and at FIU. Reed was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week following the Hilltoppers' 41-28 win at FIU in the regular-season finale, was an All-CUSA Honorable Mention selection, and was named to the CUSA All-Academic Team. Reed ranked second in CUSA in total offense (286.7), first in passing yards per game (278.3), fourth in total offensive plays (512), fourth in total offensive yards (3,440), second in total offensive touchdowns (35), first in total passing yards (3,340), first in completions (289), and second in passing touchdowns (31). Reed accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
He was the starting quarterback for all 14 of WKU's games in 2022 during his first season on The Hill.. With 4,744 passing yards on the season, Reed led all passers in college football to give WKU the top passing quarterback for the second-consecutive season. His best game of the season came in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl when he passed for 497 yards and four touchdowns. That effort led to him being named the bowl game's MVP. In addition to his total of 4,744 yards, he threw for 40 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions. Reed also factored into the rushing game for the Hilltoppers, totaling 224 yards and eight touchdowns. Reed landed himself on multiple watch lists throughout the course of the year, and was named Conference USA's Newcomer of the Year at the conclusion of the season in addition to being named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.
Reed transferred to The Hill after a successful run at West Florida. He led the Argos to a Division II national championship in 2019 while throwing for 4,089 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushing for an additional six. He started his college football career at the FCS level with Southern Illinois.
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