96 Days to Miami football: Jon Ford needs big senior year
After starting all 13 games in 2019, the Miami football program needs rising senior defensive tackle Jon Ford to take another step forward in 2020.
Jon Ford started all 13 games for the Miami football team in 2019 recording career highs with 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble. Ford signed with Miami as a three-star defensive tackle in the Class of 2017 known for his size and power. Ford played in seven games as a true freshman.
Miami was deep at DT in 2017. Kendrick Norton and R.J. McIntosh started on the interior of the Hurricanes defensive line backed up by Andrew Moten and Pat Bethel. As a sophomore, Ford was behind Bethel and second-team All-American Gerald Willis. Ford finally moved up to first-team alongside Bethel in 2019.
Ford and rising junior Nesta Silvera have to anchor the interior of the Hurricanes defensive line in 2020. The focus of opposing offensive coordinators will be on the edge rushers on the Miami defense. Rising redshirt sophomore defensive end Greg Rousseau leads the nation in returning players with 15.5 sacks in 2019.
Miami added Temple graduate transfer Quincy Roche who was the American Athletic Conference 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and Jaelan Phillips who was the top recruit in the country in 2017 and sat out at Miami in 2019 after transferring from UCLA. Ford and Silvera have to get a push in the middle of the Miami defensive line.
Ford and Silvera will lead a young group of Miami DTs behind them. Rising redshirt sophomore
and rising redshirt freshman
and
are the future for Miami at DT beyond the 2020 season. Miami Co-defensive coordinator
Blake Baker discussed Ford and Silvera
last month.
"“With Jon Ford and Nesta I think those two have a chance to be really, really good and improve our play from last year to this year. I expect to see a major contribution and major improvement out of those two guys."
At 6’5, 310 pounds, Ford is an imposing presence on the defensive line. Ford gives Miami a nearly immovable force on the interior of the Hurricanes defensive line. If Ford and Silvera live up to their potential, the Miami defensive line with Phillips, Roche and Rousseau has the potential to be the best in the country.
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Ford and Silvera will be the key against the run. Miami finished 17th against the run in 2019 allowing 114.62 yards per game and 10th allowing 3.17 yards per carry. Bethel provided a steady presence on the DL. It is time for Ford as a senior to step up and be the type of player that has been expected since he signed in 2017.