After helping Calvary Day School (Savannah, Ga.) improve its undefeated record to 12-0 with a win over Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.) in the second round of the Class A Private state football playoffs this past Friday night, four-star linebacker Troy Ford …
After helping Calvary Day School (Savannah, Ga.) improve its undefeated record to 12-0 with a win over Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.) in the second round of the Class A Private state football playoffs this past Friday night, four-star linebacker Troy Ford Jr. traveled to Clemson with a couple of teammates for Saturday’s game against Wake Forest.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior in the 2023 class made the trip to Tiger Town with 2023 defensive lineman Terry Simmons and 2024 quarterback Jake Merklinger.
It marked the second unofficial visit to Clemson this season for Ford, who was also in Death Valley for the Tigers’ win over South Carolina State on Sept. 11.
“It was amazing as always,” Ford said of the latest visit on Saturday. “I really felt close with the coaches. We bonded. Also my teammates, they had a really good time, too.”
Ford spent plenty of time during the visit with Clemson assistant coach Todd Bates, and after the Tigers’ 48-27 victory over the Demon Deacons, Ford was able to speak with defensive coordinator Brent Venables and head man Dabo Swinney.
“They liked how I played and glad that I was able to come up there,” Ford said. “Coach Venables said he would like to try to make one of my games. Since we’re deep in playoffs now, he said he would like to come watch us, and I’m very excited about that.”
Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day School 2023 4-star LB Troy Ford Jr. on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider
Venables expressing interest in watching Ford play means a great deal to the standout prospect.
“It means everything because I’ve been working very hard to get an offer from there,” he said. “So, just knowing that they’re interested in me makes me want to work harder.”
In addition to Clemson, Ford has been to games at South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, Notre Dame and UCF this season. He is slated to return to Columbia for the Gamecocks’ rivalry showdown against the Tigers this Saturday.
Ford holds offers from South Carolina, Auburn, Notre Dame, UCF, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Missouri and Indiana.
Right now, Ford is more focused on finishing his junior season strong rather than the recruiting process. But he has a timeline in mind for when he wants to begin cutting down his recruitment.
“Definitely sometime after the season ends,” he said. “As of right now, I just want to focus on the season right now, focus on me and my teammates. But then after the season, I’m going to start narrowing it down, top couple of schools, and should come out with that pretty soon.”
Where does Clemson stand with Ford at this point in the process following his latest visit to campus last weekend?
“They’re very high on my board,” he said. “That’s a very special place, and I really love the environment there. So, I’m working very hard to get an offer from there.”
Ford, who has played both outside linebacker and defensive end for Calvary Day this season, is credited with 44 total tackles, 12 for loss and four sacks in 12 games this season.
Most schools, including Clemson, are recruiting him as a linebacker.
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The Irish were busy not only winning on the field but on the recruiting trail as well
The Irish are in the midst of building on the great class of 2022 and continuing to add on to the 2023 and beyond classes.
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Every weekend this fall there have been plenty of visitors but recently we have seen an uptick with recruiting action. Here are a few of the notable happenings regarding Notre Dame football from this past weekend.
Among the prospects in attendance for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State on Saturday was Troy Ford, Jr., a four-star linebacker in the 2023 class from Calvary Day School in Savannah, Ga. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior was blown away by his …
Among the prospects in attendance for Clemson’s 49-3 win over South Carolina State on Saturday was Troy Ford, Jr., a four-star linebacker in the 2023 class from Calvary Day School in Savannah, Ga.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior was blown away by his experience at Death Valley, where he saw a college football game in person for the first time.
“It was amazing,” Ford told The Clemson Insider. “That whole atmosphere the whole day was crazy. When the game started, it erupted. It was crazy listening to the crowd. It was my first college game ever.”
Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day School 2023 LB Troy Ford Jr. before Clemson’s game against SC State Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider
Ford and other recruits had the opportunity to witness “the most exciting 25 seconds in college football” up close, making their way over to the hill to watch Dabo Swinney and the Tigers rub Howard’s rock and run down the hill prior to the game.
“The atmosphere was crazy,” Ford said. “My favorite part was watching them run down the hill. All the prospects were up beside the rock when they came down. We saw Coach Swinney come out and all the players followed. It was crazy. It was a crazy experience.”
Ford made the trip to The Valley with his parents and little siblings.
“They loved it,” Ford said. “My brother, especially. He didn’t want to leave actually. He begged to stay. My whole family really enjoyed the experience.”
Ford is really glad he and his family made Clemson his first recruiting visit this season and that it was where he watched his first-ever college football game.
“I had to make it a special one, so I decided to go to Clemson,” he said, “and I was not disappointed.”
Ford’s offer list currently features Notre Dame, Auburn, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and UCF.
The Tigers are showing interest in Ford and building a relationship with him, and after getting a feel for the game-day environment in Death Valley, he is even more hopeful to earn an offer from Clemson moving forward and have the chance to play there in the future.
“It would be crazy,” he said. “I would love to play in Death Valley. I could feel the energy from the players. Just from the stands, I could feel the energy from the players. So, I know it had to be special playing there.”
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Clemson will play host to some top prospects on Saturday at Death Valley for the game against South Carolina State at 5 p.m. Here are some of the bigger names that The Clemson Insider has confirmed are planning to be attendance: One of the …
Clemson will play host to some top prospects on Saturday at Death Valley for the game against South Carolina State at 5 p.m.
Here are some of the bigger names that The Clemson Insider has confirmed are planning to be attendance:
One of the headliners is Cumming (Ga.) West Forsyth four-star Oscar Delp, the No. 2 tight end in the 2022 class according to both 247Sports and Rivals.
Delp visited Clemson during the Dabo Swinney Camp in June and came back to campus for July’s All In Cookout. His four stated finalists are Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina and Michigan, and he has long been eyeing the end of September for his decision timeframe.
Several top prospects in the 2023 class are expected to be in The Valley on Saturday as well, including Del Valle (Texas) four-star wide receiver Braylon James, the No. 11 wide receiver and No. 75 overall prospect in his class according to the 247Sports Composite.
James told TCI this week that he has built a strong bond with Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham.
“Me and Coach Grisham are super close man,” James said. “No matter where I go I know I’ll always have a backbone in him.”
Among other standout class of 2023 recruits that TCI has confirmed are planning to be in attendance for Saturday’s game are Loganville (Ga.) Grayson four-star safety Michael Daugherty, Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill four-star tight end Ethan Davis, Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day School four-star linebacker Troy Ford, Jr., Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork running back Jarvis Green and Paris (Tenn.) Henry County four-star offensive tackle Luke Brown.
Daugherty is ranked as the No. 5 safety and No. 42 overall prospect in the 2023 class by 247Sports, while Davis is the No. 15 tight end in the class per the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Daugherty, Ford and Green all traveled to Clemson to participate in the Swinney Camp in June.
Stay tuned to TCI as we will have plenty of returns from Saturday’s visitors following the game.
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Clemson continues to show interest in this Georgia prospect. Savannah (Ga.) Cavalry Day School 2023 defensive end/outside linebacker Troy Ford, Jr. was on Clemson’s campus earlier last month and continues to be in contact with Tigers’ defensive …
Clemson continues to show interest in this Georgia prospect.
Savannah (Ga.) Cavalry Day School 2023 defensive end/outside linebacker Troy Ford, Jr. was on Clemson’s campus earlier last month and continues to be in contact with Tigers’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Venables.
Venables and the Tigers remain interested in the versatile Georgia defender.
“I’ve talked with Coach Venables and they want to keep this relationship going and have me calling every week and try to check in with them as much as I can,” Ford told The Clemson Insider. “He basically wants to see how I develop as a player and which position I’m going to grow into.”
Ford (6-1, 235) was blown away by everything Clemson had to offer during his time at Dabo Swinney Camp, but what really stood out to him was Venables’ willingness to go the extra mile when it came to his health.
“Our relationship is really, really good,” he said, “Especially while I was there [at Clemson]. He talked to my parents when I had a full-body cramp. I went to the hospital while I was there and he stayed with us through all that. I really appreciate that. I feel like our relationship is pretty tight right now.”
Ford doesn’t have that coveted Clemson offer just yet, but that hasn’t dissuaded his interest in the program.
“That means everything, that means a lot,” Ford said. “That’s one of the best programs in the country and they’re taking the time to get to know me. That means a lot to me.”
“I like how organized they are,” he added. “They don’t take any riff-raff. They really get to know their players, that’s what I really appreciate about them. They take their schoolwork very seriously as well.”
Ford would love to get back up to Clemson soon. He’s trying to get up to a game sometime this season and hopes to take an official visit later on in his recruitment.
He took in an unofficial visit to Auburn last weekend.
Getting back on the recruiting trail and putting voices to faces has been huge for Ford’s recruitment.
“It really helps me,” he said. “It gives me a grasp about what the college is all about and where it’s located and all that. Plus, I can really pick and choose where I would see myself before I go to college.”
With that being said, what are some of the more important factors Ford is looking for in a school at the next level?
“It’s how they help me with tutoring and all that when I go into college and really how they treat me and my family,” Ford said. “When I go up there, I just want them to treat my family well and treat me well.”
That’s certainly been the case with Clemson thus far.
For Calvary Day School, Ford has played all over the field. He’s a hybrid defender, starring at both defensive end and linebacker. Additionally, he’s a two-way player and has experience playing both running back and tight end for his high school.
While Ford is currently viewed as more of a defensive end, Venables wants to see how Ford grows into his own as a linebacker.
“He said he liked how aggressive I play the game and how I can see things before they happen,” Ford said of Venables.
As far as his recruitment is concerned, Ford is trying to be as patient as he can. He’s not going to rush his decision. He’s definitely going to wait to the end of this upcoming season and then make his decision sometime after that.
From a goals standpoint, Ford is looking to lead his team to a state championship, while surpassing 70 tackles for the season.
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