Pennsylvania quarterback Andrew Ford verbally committed to Virginia Tech this afternoon.
After much thought and many prayers, I am proud to announce that I will be continuing my academics and athletics at Virginia Tech #GoHokies— Andrew Ford (@Andrew_Ford7) June 16, 2013
Ford is 6-3, 190-pounds, rated a 4-star by 247Sports, and a 3-star prospect by Rivals.com. I asked French what he thought about Ford and this is what he told me:
- Extremely live arm, his 10-20 yard passes are on the money, especially accurate on the move.
- He seems to take his eyes off downfield for a brief moment when pressured, but that's something Loeffler can improve on.
- He's left-handed, which requires an adjustment by the staff and the receivers. Right tackles become your blindside protection.
- Every snap I saw was from the shotgun, so it will probably require a redshirt year to teach how to play under center.
- His footwork does tend to break down, but his arm strength is so good that he can make throws.
- Minus the scrambling, he throws the ball just like Michael Vick, quick snap of the wrist.
More highlights are available on Ford's Hudl.
Ford is the highest ranked QB on the Pennsylvania 2014 Fab 25. Ford earned a spot in the prestigious Elite 11, and The Opening at Nike HQ by winning MVP at a regional camp.
"It definitely feels better to earn it," said Ford who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior in 11 games. "I really got to showcase my arm strength. I think my highlight tape shows some of that, but I really was able to show that to them in person."
JC Shurburtt of 247Sports said the following about Ford's showing at the camp.
Ford, who is ranked as the nation's No. 15 pro-style quarterback according to 247Sports and is a four-star prospect, is going to make some college program very happy. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder was accurate with his passes and has excellent size/frame and in addition to The Opening invite, was awarded the quarterback MVP for the camp by the coaching staff. Massachusetts and Temple have offered and right now, the Owls are in good shape.
Welcome to HokieNation Andrew!
Comments
I like this! I think with much mentoring from Loeffler he can be the quarter back we need down the road! Welcome to Virginia Tech!
Would The Key Play be giving us a detailed film breakdown on Ford? (Please) :-)
One thing that nobody seems to be talking about yet is that this kid really seems to have a good set of wheels. On the few designed runs in his film clip, once he gets into the open he really eats up a lot of ground quickly. I saw somewhere else that he's been clocked in the 4.5 range in the 40. After watching his film, I can believe it.
I'm liking this pickup more and more. :-)
Very important recruit for Tech to get. Loeffler get's his QB for the future to mold. Ford has a cannon for an arm and if Loeffler is as good a QB Coach as has been advertised, he's got a nice toy here to play with for the next four years.
I'm just glad he didn't call us Virginia Tech University
The only lengthy film I have seen on Ford is on his Hudl page: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/594850/highlights/32897392
My first thought on Andrew Ford is that he has The best live arm of any quarterback that the Hokies have recruited this cycle with the exception of David Cromwell. He has real snap to throws and looks very accurate on 10-20 yard throws. He apprara to be extremely accurate, especially on the move, and he makes throws in a manner where he trusts his receivers and hits them in rhythm.
He moves fairly well, but seems to take his eyes off downfield for a brief moment when pressured then he resets himself. He doesnt appear to be supremely athletic, but he makes some plays with his feet.
That left handed release can be a blessind a curse. It requires an adjustment in your blocking scheme as right tackles become your blindside protection. Your receivers have to adjust to a different rotation on throws, and it changes your play-action and bootleg game. But man, the more I watch, the more I see that sharp wrist snap and that line drive accuracy, it reminds me so much of a Michael Vick throw.
Now, there are some challenges. EVERY SNAP on his film is from the shotgun, so it will require a redshirt year to teach how to play under center.
Second, he is 6’3… 6’3… 6’3. It is tough on a QB that throws the ball with low trajectory from a ¾ delivery when the linemen are taller, and Grimes will be recruiting guys 6’4-6’8 feet tall. He must adjust or use his movement to create throwing lanes.
This definitely takes the sting out of a rough recruiting week, especially if he is still growing. It will take him some time to get accustomed to being back under center, but you can tell he is a quarterback and not just an athlete with a good arm. He has command of his system and lots of confidence. You would be surprised how rare that is in a high schooler film.
On the youtube highlight video his second snap was from under center. Not saying he won't need a redshirt year to get used to it, but it appears he has done it at least on occasion.
ahhh finally...this is great. Welcome to Hokie Nation Andrew!
I noted this in another thread earlier in the week, but I really like Ford's film. As Joe said up above, great accuracy on his throws, especially on those seam routes. Great snap to his throw, good balance in the pocket, active feet. I would like to see him rotate the hips and shoulders a bit more on his throws; he sort of recoils, or tightens up when he releases, which can potentially cause arm trouble down the line. It puts a lot of strain on the shoulder. Plus, he might be able to get some extra zip on the ball if he improves the mechanics a little, because that recoil is likely a product of him "aiming" the ball as opposed to "throwing" the ball. The good thing is despite the recoil, he still shows great arm strength.
I'm really excited to get him into camp and see what he can do. With him, Bucky and potentially McMillian, there should be some good competition in the coming years.
Don't forget Carlis Parker. Everyone seems to be assuming that he's going to eventually end up at WR, and if so that's great. He's too good an athlete to not be playing somewhere. But he just may wind up being a serious contender at QB. He didn't get as much attention from the recruiting services because he sustained a severe knee injury as a junior. But those who have seen him playing at full speed have been impressed.
Travon McMillan isn't totally out of the picture either in my opinion.
http://blog.pennlive.com/pa-recruiting/2013/06/what_led_cedar_cliff_qb_a...
This kid is awesome! Plenty of great quotes about the him in this article.
This also might explain why an elite 11 QB supposedly only had offers from VT Temple and Umass.
"Ford chose the Hokies over Virginia and Pitt. Most national recruiting sites show Ford with offers from only Temple and UMass. But he had plenty of other offers. The 6-3, 195-pound Ford chose not to make them public."
Confirmation of what we already knew regarding MOC's coaching in this little nugget:
This quote makes me feel things.
Beamer turned the play calling over to O'Cain in part because his coach-player relationship with Thomas. To read into it, Logan might not have been feeling that. A lot of things were wrong with the offense during O'Cain's tenure, but I feel like he failed Tyrod in his development (although quarterback swap didn't help either), and correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Michael Via was the only starter he had a hand in recruiting.
The more I hear tidbits and read quotes about the coaches no longer with the team, the more I believe complacency set in for them.
It goes without saying, but I'm happy a hungry Loeffler is in Blacksburg.
Complacency will kill you in today's college football, from recruiting all the way to winning games. Especially when the competition (Bama, Clemson, etc) are going cut throat in every aspect. Can't wait for this season!
Who called that shit? I CALLED THAT SHIT. Welcome to Hokie Nation. Do good things
Pennsylvania, huh? Some okay QBs come the Keystone. Gannon, Namath, Jim Kelly, Marino, Unitas, Montana. Place your MNC bets now :)
Also, for whatever Frisky Dingo fans may lurk around the boards, we finally have a < Nearl > Mr. Ford < /Nearl > on the team.
his ass is everywhere
Also, a Mr F for Arrested Development fans...
Minus 1 for listing Gannon over Unitas, Montana, and Namath
Meh... I could understand why. I grew up watching Gannon, and even Joe Montana is just stories and archived footage in my mind. Obviously they were fantastic players in their time, but I don't have any firsthand knowledge to go on. So, maybe, Gannon just came to mind first.
I was skimming through and somehow read "Glennon" instead of "Gannon"...needless to say I was confused.
Was going from bottom to top, but okay
Then -1 for putting Marino in the middle.
...jk
To hear Logan Thomas telling Ford what he thought about Loeffler was pretty damning against O'Cain. How many times have Thomas publicly stated his cozy relationship with O'Cain was all hunky-dorky?
Then to read Andy Bitter's tweets about Ford's high school coach once coaching Chad Henne who then went on to tutor under Loeffler tells me that Ford felt he could learn whole lot more from Leoffler than anywhere else.
I am just happy that he wants to be a Hokies, and that is all that truly matter.
Btw, this kid's highlight video had not one but three pump fakes. Sweet! Definitely the week got a whole lot better!
So more good news: Ford is graduating high school in December, which I'm assuming means that he's enrolling early.
It's always a great day when a talented young man chooses to be a Hokie. Welcome aboard, Andrew. I hope Loeffler trains you to become a top-notch college QB and I look forward to seeing you on the field.
More video......
Check out the link:
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/videos/_/id...
Wait. Is Ford *6'3"*, 6'3"? Or is he Virginia Tech 6'3", i.e. 6'ish?
Every recruiting site has him at 6'3" but the weight ranges from 180 to 195. I expect him to be around 195-200 by the time spring ball rolls around next year.
Haha, what are you implying Wartooth?
I remember Mike Imoh being listed at like 5'7 or 5'8. I saw him at Lifetime fitness once and he was much closer to 5'4. That being said he was a bowling ball.
Even JC Coleman's height was a bit overestimated. Even with cleats and a helmet on he didn't reach whatever VT listed him at.
We should totally falsify everyone on the roster. Logan Thomas is ten feet tall. Demetri Knowles runs a forty in negative 4.3 seconds. Derrick Hopkins is stronger than a bear. DJ Coles catches with his feet.
...and Marcus Davis blocks
Too funny. We should set up a WikiRoster on this site and make up facts about everyone on the team.
And Frank Beamer once beat Michael Jackson in a dancing competition. Sorry, couldn't help it.
tells recruits they're still "tight" and they can meet him if they like.
Nick Acree retired from football because of a series of injuries. First, he put his foot through the field. Then, he bent the goalposts over his knee. Finally, the yard lines bent when he walked by. The field just couldn't take the pain anymore, and begged Nick to retire.
During last year's Commonwealth Cup game, as Mike London was about to call timeout on VT's last drive, James Gayle simply stared across the field and said, "no." The rest is history.
Ya'll remember when David Wilson scaled the empire state building (cassell coliseum) and caught a biplane (caught a rabbit) as it flew by while shooting at him with a machine gun.
Tried to find a video, but all I could find was this fool's poor attempt to copycat DW4's brilliance.
edit: Don't want anyone to miss the joke, so I put in a few notes to help boost memories, hoping to truly honor our beloved running back who still holds the world record for number of consecutive back-flips....[pause]..... in a Hokie uniform
This reminded me of Braveheart, where William Wallace says he is ten feet tall and shots lightning out of his arse.
And just before every game at Lane Stadium, Atone Exum belts out Enter Sandman rapping.
"Football" weight and height includes pads and helmet on.
They arent supposed to...
I like where your head's at.
Dear Andrew,
Find some quality big ass man-beasts known as linemen and bring them with you. Also if you could grab Street, Brown, and Nnadi on your way that would be great too.
-Hokie Nation
I just found this article on ESPN Insider that I thought was interesting:
Full Article: http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/east/post/_/id/7587/beamer...
great read, thanks for posting!
Very cool. I feel comfortable with our offense down the road, but this year I'm certain that the defense and special teams will need to carry more than their share of the load.
As oppossed to every other year, when they take a back seat to our dominant offensive juggernaut...