The 2009 season may have been an eye-opener for LSU redshirt freshman Michael Ford, but his performance in the spring game and summer workouts are surely opening many eyes on the coaching staff.
Ford, a record-setting performer while with the Leesville Wampus Cats from 2006-09, is now battling for the starting position at running back for the No. 16 LSU Tigers as they continue fall practice in preparation for the season-opener at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 4 against North Carolina.
What many fans know about Ford in Leesville is he was always the hardest-working player on the team. Now, he's becoming known for his work in Baton Rouge.
Tuesday, LSU held its annual Media Day and head coach Les Miles had nothing but positive reviews for Ford.
"He is a guy that is certainly going to get a lot of reps in summer ball to see where he is at and how he runs the football when it is live," Miles said. "That will really mark the position of our running backs. It is all well and good being healthy and ready to roll, but who is the best? Certainly we are going to play that guy. Michael Ford is a great look because he might be the best, we will just have to see."
Ford is coming off quite an impressive performance in the L-Club Spring Game, when he led the Tigers in rushing with 139 yards on 19 carries. He repeatedly had strong performances in scrimmages in the spring and has carried that over to the first week of fall practice.
It won't be easy, however. Ahead of Ford waiting for their opportunity to be the bell cow of the Tiger offense are fifth-year senior Richard Murphy and junior Stevan Ridley, who also went over 100 yards rushing in the spring game.
Murphy is coming off a knee injury in 2009, but is reportedly as healthy as he's ever been. Although not overly physical at 6-1 and 206 pounds, Murphy does provide the most experience of the three. Ridley is a more physical presence at 6-0 and 225 pounds. Ford, however, may be the most naturally-gifted of the three after blowing up workouts this summer. He led the team in vertical jump at 42 inches, finished in the top 5 on the team in the bench press at 425 pounds and also was in the top five in the power clean.
"He's very explosive, I think he had a 40-inch vertical jump that shows his explosion and power. From a physical standpoint, that strength, explosion and speed show a lot of upside for him. He just needs to get a feel for the game and the league. It's a good feeling to have him there knowing that there is some depth," LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said.
It's the experience factor that may have Ford coming in off the bench by the time the Tigers battle the Tar Heels, but regardless it's looking more and more like he'll get considerable playing time.
"Michael Ford in the spring was hard to tackle, had speed, had the ability to break a play and maybe take it for a long ways," Crowton said. "He's got a chance to keep battling in there and see what happens when we get to our league play. I have a very positive feeling about Ford."
For the first time in a number of years, the Tigers don't have a decisive leader at running back heading into the season opener. Charles Scott occupied that role for the previous two seasons and Jacob Hester was the go-to back prior to that.
Murphy has performed sporadically over his career and enters the 2009 season with 81 career attempts for 442 yards (5.5 avg.) and 2 TDs. Ridley, who became the starter after Scott and Keiland Williams went down with injuries late in the 2009 season, has carried the ball 57 times for 272 yards (4.8 avg.) and 3 TDs.
Although Ford hasn't played a down of college football, his resumé in high school was as impressive as any running back coming out of the 2009 recruiting class across the nation.
His senior year he rushed for 2,953 yards and 29 TDs. His last regular season game as a Wampus Cat was his best. He set school records with 443 yards and 6 TDs against Tioga High School.
With two-a-days under way as of Wednesday, the next two weeks should go a long way in determining who will see the field more against North Carolina. Regardless, being in the mix is a lot better than standing on the sidelines with a redshirt season.
This could be the year Ford becomes a household name across the nation. He already is in Leesville.
|
|
|
The 2009 season may have been an eye-opener for LSU redshirt freshman Michael Ford, but his performance in the spring game and summer workouts are surely opening many eyes on the coaching staff.
Ford, a record-setting performer while with the Leesville Wampus Cats from 2006-09, is now battling for the starting position at running back for the No. 16 LSU Tigers as they continue fall practice in preparation for the season-opener at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 4 against North Carolina.
What many fans know about Ford in Leesville is he was always the hardest-working player on the team. Now, he's becoming known for his work in Baton Rouge.
Tuesday, LSU held its annual Media Day and head coach Les Miles had nothing but positive reviews for Ford.
"He is a guy that is certainly going to get a lot of reps in summer ball to see where he is at and how he runs the football when it is live," Miles said. "That will really mark the position of our running backs. It is all well and good being healthy and ready to roll, but who is the best? Certainly we are going to play that guy. Michael Ford is a great look because he might be the best, we will just have to see."
Ford is coming off quite an impressive performance in the L-Club Spring Game, when he led the Tigers in rushing with 139 yards on 19 carries. He repeatedly had strong performances in scrimmages in the spring and has carried that over to the first week of fall practice.
It won't be easy, however. Ahead of Ford waiting for their opportunity to be the bell cow of the Tiger offense are fifth-year senior Richard Murphy and junior Stevan Ridley, who also went over 100 yards rushing in the spring game.
Murphy is coming off a knee injury in 2009, but is reportedly as healthy as he's ever been. Although not overly physical at 6-1 and 206 pounds, Murphy does provide the most experience of the three. Ridley is a more physical presence at 6-0 and 225 pounds. Ford, however, may be the most naturally-gifted of the three after blowing up workouts this summer. He led the team in vertical jump at 42 inches, finished in the top 5 on the team in the bench press at 425 pounds and also was in the top five in the power clean.
"He's very explosive, I think he had a 40-inch vertical jump that shows his explosion and power. From a physical standpoint, that strength, explosion and speed show a lot of upside for him. He just needs to get a feel for the game and the league. It's a good feeling to have him there knowing that there is some depth," LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said.
It's the experience factor that may have Ford coming in off the bench by the time the Tigers battle the Tar Heels, but regardless it's looking more and more like he'll get considerable playing time.
"Michael Ford in the spring was hard to tackle, had speed, had the ability to break a play and maybe take it for a long ways," Crowton said. "He's got a chance to keep battling in there and see what happens when we get to our league play. I have a very positive feeling about Ford."
For the first time in a number of years, the Tigers don't have a decisive leader at running back heading into the season opener. Charles Scott occupied that role for the previous two seasons and Jacob Hester was the go-to back prior to that.
Murphy has performed sporadically over his career and enters the 2009 season with 81 career attempts for 442 yards (5.5 avg.) and 2 TDs. Ridley, who became the starter after Scott and Keiland Williams went down with injuries late in the 2009 season, has carried the ball 57 times for 272 yards (4.8 avg.) and 3 TDs.
Although Ford hasn't played a down of college football, his resumé in high school was as impressive as any running back coming out of the 2009 recruiting class across the nation.
His senior year he rushed for 2,953 yards and 29 TDs. His last regular season game as a Wampus Cat was his best. He set school records with 443 yards and 6 TDs against Tioga High School.
With two-a-days under way as of Wednesday, the next two weeks should go a long way in determining who will see the field more against North Carolina. Regardless, being in the mix is a lot better than standing on the sidelines with a redshirt season.
This could be the year Ford becomes a household name across the nation. He already is in Leesville.
