Reggie Wells Jr., a former starting NFL offensive lineman, joined the DU staff in the spring of 2022 after spending two seasons as an assistant at California University of Pa. He will enter his second season on the Dukes sideline in 2023.
In Wells' first season on the Bluff, the Duquesne defense ranked first in the NEC in team sacks per game (2.73) and tackles for loss (7.1), which were good for 15th and 22nd on the national FCS leader board, respectively.
Wells started over 90 games in his 10-year NFL career (2003-12). Taken in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Wells started every game for the Cardinals, without missing a snap, from 2006-09.
Wells started at left guard and was a team captain for Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII while playing alongside Pro Football Hall of Famers Kurt Warner and Edgerrin James.
Following his time in Arizona, Wells appeared in eight games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 before joining the Carolina Panthers in 2011. He closed his NFL career the next season after splitting time with the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers.
Wells’ playing career began at Clarion, where he was a four-year starter from 1999-02 and earned All-America honors from the AFCA, Associated Press, D2Football.com and Football Gazette.
In 2019, Wells was one of 11 former Golden Eagles recognized among The PSAC’s 150 Contributors, which is comprised of individuals who made significant contributions to college football. Additionally, he was inducted into the Clarion Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and became part of the institution’s first father-son duo to be selected to the Hall Fame, as his father Reggie Wells, Sr. was an All-American basketball player for the Golden Eagles.
A native of Library, Pa., Wells helped South Park High School capture the state football championship in 1997.
Wells completed his degree in communication from Clarion in 2008 and received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the university in 2010.
He and his wife Lara reside in Venetia, Pa.
