Keith Ford Update
Hey guys, to be honest I didn't really expect too much when talking with Keith Ford, the #1 running back in the country according to 247 Sports, but our discussion regarding Michigan ended up being pretty interesting. Check it out: Keith Ford
EDIT: Ford is the #2 RB, but the top player in the state of Texas. He's #20 overall as well. Sorry about the confusion.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
It is great we are in his top group - but I'm not getting over excited before he comes on campus.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^
Agreed. I don't give it much hope, but if he came here that would be great.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
February 12th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
It's gonna be tough pulling him if/when he gets that Texas offer, but it's good to see interest nonetheless.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
I naturally thought the same, but if you google him, there's a 247 VIP thread started less than a day ago titled "You can probably count out Keith Ford". FWIW.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
I would suspect that they may not be the top dog for highly regarded Texas HS RBs this year.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
I think there's a chance that Texas takes Dontre Wilson and calls it a year. But I'm not familiar with their RB needs or class size this year. I'll try to reach out to some Texas guys and see if I can get these Qs answered.
EDIT: Reached out to Jeff Howe, one of Texas' 247 guys, and got this response when I asked how many RBs Texas plans to take....
a true TB and an all-purpose guy if it's the right two. Could change, obviously.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
Aqua, you make me happy. Just tried to think about this but I'm still currently too hung-over... anyone want to brainstorm what other schools could combine:
1. Tier 1 (i.e. top 3 team in a top 5 conference) football program.
2. Good overall education.
3. Solid engineering, mechanical especially.
I'm glad this kid cares about academics, even if football and engineering proved to be too challenging to be success in both areas, at least this proves the kid has his mind in the right place and isn't choosing a football team, he's chooing a university. That's the most important thing about college athletics and something that is often overlooked in college football...
1. Education 2. Football
-Chet
February 12th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
It's really cool to see the athletes who care about the academic side as well as sports, and it doesn't hurt that Michigan's Mechanical Engineering prorgram is top notch.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:44 AM ^
I'd assume Texas will be a problem b/c they also have a solid Engineering school, and its Texas football. That being said, its nice to have a legit shot.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
I mean we aren't going to get everyone of these guys, but just the fact that we are in on so many of them is pretty impressive.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^
The more kids like this we're in on, the more we can actually sign. Its science. Hoke knows science.
February 12th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^
February 12th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
Texas has some other running back targets from what it seems. Also, Keith Ford highlights:
Love to have this kid aboard. Does not go down without a fight. He has some very nice cutbacks.
February 12th, 2012 at 8:11 PM ^
off my keyboard after watching these highlights. The boy has some quicks for his size.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^
Didnt Texas just bring in the nation's top running back this year? Im not saying this kid is afraid of competition, but I would have to think that might sway his decision a bit. He can come to Michigan and be the man for 3-4 years all while getting a top notch degree. (I am still on the Ty Isaac bandwagon, so this is just hpothetically saying we dont get Isaac and land Ford, which would be great, too).
February 12th, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^
They got Malcolm Brown, who was the #2 running back, a year ago and then Jonathan Gray, the #2 running back, this year (both according to Scout). So yeah, whoever Texas gets as far as a running back will be facing some tough competition ahead of him.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
what are his intrest in other texas schools like baylor, AM, tech
February 12th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
A&M seems to be the only other Texas school thus far. I read somewhere that this kid is initially from Florida and he likes the Gators. He has an offer from Florida State, but not UF or Miami.
February 12th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^
I'm not sure how many RB's Florida plans on taking, but Kelvin Taylor, son of Fred Taylor, is announcing next weekend & he probably will pick the Gators.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
One would think (hope?) that in the Shane era we would be much more attractive to backs like Ford than we are right now. As we transition to a more "traditional" offense the RB becomes much more a focal point in the offense and given Borges's stated preference to have one "meal cow" I'm guessing we start picking up the elite RBs.
It would not surprise me a bit if we get him. Especially if we have a good year and maybe a good showing in his home state next September!
February 12th, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Derrick Green, another monster, top 100 pro-style RB out of Richmond, VA said that Michigan is more attractive to him because of the offense we will be running with Morris at QB. It's definitely something the coaching staff is pushing.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
get a guy named Green to wear the maize and blue? I kinda wish his name was Maize or Blue or Lloyd Brady or Tacopants, but you just never know about recruiting.
February 12th, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
What does maize and blue make once combined?
February 12th, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
Michigan.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
a big OSU lean?
February 12th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
Yes. Former teammate of Curtis Grant
February 12th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^
Yup, like DG said. It's odd, however....wants to play in a pro-style offense yet favors an Urb-led OSU program.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
isnt green a big OSU guy?
February 12th, 2012 at 2:43 PM ^
In addition to Morris and the style of offense, I would like to think there's a recognition that Michigan has done a bang-up job with the offensive line in the 2012 signing. Add to that some beefy TEs and a FB blocking and it must be a dream for a running back.
Plus -- I really believe this -- the authenticity of Hoke is starting to get recognized by recruits. The whole program has Hoke's fingerprints of responsibility and accountability all over it. It may seem old-fashioned to say it, but I really do think there are young men out there that just yearn to be part of something like that.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
definitely going to choose LSU. /heavy s
February 12th, 2012 at 12:10 PM ^
February 12th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
Not big time, per se, but Hopkins and Terrence Robinson are from Texas.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^
Would be a HUGE get. Has a sub 4.4 speed and hits the hole hard. Since were in on so many big time running backs it would be hard not to land at least one. I still want us to go after Berekly Edwards though he has lightning speed and big threat possibilities
February 12th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
hopefully he comes to the Michigan Alabama game.
February 12th, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^
I think I read recently that Jackson's trips down south for the 2012 signing class were really curtailed from the past ... that his focus was on Michigan / Ohio for 2012. I know Hoke's emphasis was on local talent first, then branch out from there. I wonder if this is a sign of Jackson (or other recruiters) venturing back out? Or simply a high-profile recruit receiving big school offers based on high rankings? Anyone have a sense for that?
February 12th, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
would love to see us grab some players from texas
February 12th, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^
Wants to major in engineering...
February 13th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
the BME students.
February 12th, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^
but Ford strikes me as a very long shot, simply from a distance standpoint. I've heard the "academics is very important to me" line so many times from kids who end up going to schools with markedly inferior credentials that I don't take it seriously anymore.
February 12th, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^
"Academics are important to me" can be interpretted in many different ways...
February 12th, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^
Now this is the kinda rb I've been wanting us to pursue!
February 13th, 2012 at 2:03 AM ^
recruits, mentioning Michigan as very interested, is always a good thing though.