Pottstown’s Braden Reed has emerged as Villanova’s No. 1 receiver: ’It just comes more natural to him’
What the 5-foot-9 Reed lacks in size, he makes up for in “desire and habits and work," which has helped him become quarterback Pat McQuaide’s favorite target this season as a sophomore.
Villanova’s Braden Reed put together a remarkable freshman season in 2025. He racked up 34 catches, was third-team All-Coastal Athletic Association as a punt returner, and earned a spot on the Stats Perform Freshman All-American team for the Wildcats, who reached the FCS semifinals.
Now in his second season, the 5-foot-9 Reed has slid into the Wildcats’ No. 1 receiver role and aided their offensive attack, building a good connection with graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide and leading Villanova in receptions (34), receiving yards (433) and touchdown catches (four).
Reed has been a highlight for the Wildcats (3-4, 2-2 Patriot League), including in their 38-17 win over Fordham last Saturday. The wideout hauled in four catches for 88 yards, including a touchdown that put Villanova up two scores on the Rams, momentum they hope to carry over against Lehigh (6-1, 4-0 Patriot League) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ESPN+).
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“It felt good to finally play what we call complementary football or offense helps defense, defense helps offense, special teams setting up drives — it felt good to kind of put everything together,” Reed said. “I think we just executed, really focused on the details all week and focused on our process of getting things done, not really focusing on the things around us and just doing our job.”
Reed has been part of a potent passing game for the Wildcats, who lead the Patriot League in passing yards and completion percentage, and has grown into McQuaide’s favorite target. The sophomore’s 34 receptions are 11 more than Villanova’s next leading receiver.
The pair have formed a bond on and off the field.
“He’s like a big brother to me,” said Reed of McQuaide . “He’s a super good dude. I talk to him about a bunch of stuff, he’s always there for me. A guy I know that I can count on.”
Reed, who grew up in Pottstown, comes from a football family. His father, Scott Reed, played at West Chester and then was a coach during Braden’s time at Pope John Paul II, first as an assistant and then as his head coach from his sophomore to senior seasons.
Villanova coach Mark Ferrante said his background has given Reed an edge, as he possesses a higher football IQ than players who didn’t grow up with that kind of experience and environment.
“I think it just comes more natural to him,” Ferrante said. “He’s the type of guy that you could tell him once and he’s got it, where some guys have to get it in a meeting, maybe watch it on the film and then go out and rep it a few times before it actually clicks. With [Reed], you can just have a conversation with him and I think growing up with it, it’s almost regular day language.”
That natural instinct has helped Reed take another step this season. He has already matched his 2025 total in receptions, has scored more touchdowns than last season (three), and is on pace to surpass his freshman mark of 518 receiving yards — maybe even as soon as this weekend.
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Ferrante said what sets Reed apart, despite his small stature, is how hard he drives himself in all facets of the game.
“Braden’s a guy that they should all mimic as far as his practice habits and preparation, what it takes going into each and every game,” Ferrante said. “He has a great work ethic, probably not the biggest, fastest, strongest, but he makes up for that in desire and habits and work that he puts into it. And he reaps what he sows — one of the first guys on the field, the last to leave.”
The Wildcats are winless on their home turf and lead the conference in penalties and penalty yards. Villanova was flagged five times against Fordham, and are 2-3 in one-score games after going undefeated in them last season.
Reed, who Ferrante says will probably be a future captain, believes the team will only get stronger as the season goes on.
“We’re definitely growing closer as a team,” Reed said. “Those first couple one-score games were tough but after last week, hopefully we start to put some things together. [...] I think it’s just focusing on every day, one rep at a time, doing your job to the best of your abilities. When you do that, I think the result speaks for itself.”
Ferrante said the progress is starting to translate from practice to games as it did against Fordham.
“The progress we’ve been making on all sides of the ball is hopefully starting to come together the more they play together,” Ferrante said. “The more games we play together, the more we can play hopefully complementary football, one build off the other. We got a nice interception [from Garrett Rogan vs. Fordham] and the offense [turned] that into points. Those are nice things we haven’t been doing, but hopefully starting to come to fruition now that they’re playing together more.”
