Mike Ford, CB, Southeast Missouri 2018 NFL Draft Prospect

Two-year starter at cornerback…Stands tied for 19th at Southeast in career interceptions (6).

2016: Started seven games at cornerback…Missed the final four weeks of the season due to injury…Collected 40 tackles, 30 solo stops, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and six breakups…Finished with a sack and made his only interception in the season-opener at Football Bowl Subdivision Memphis (9/3)…Notched a career-high 11 tackles at Eastern Kentucky (10/8)…Tallied six tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss, a sack and two breakups against #13 Eastern Illinois (10/1)…Southeast Scholar-Athlete.

2015: Started all 11 games at cornerback, his first year playing that position…Named Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference and was among nominees for the College Football Performance Awards FCS Defensive Awards…Earned OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week accolades on Sept. 13…Notched 44 tackles with 32 solo stops…Returned his first career interception 21 yards for a touchdown and had a season-high eight tackles and two picks vs. Southern Illinois (9/12)…Led the team and tied for first in the OVC with five interceptions…His five picks also tied for eighth all-time in a single-season at Southeast…Contributed his first career sack at Indiana State (9/19)…Collected two tackles for a loss of six yards…Tied for ninth in the FCS in interceptions per game and ranked 30th in passes defended (12)…Southeast Scholar-Athlete.

2014: Moved to cornerback in the spring…Played in nine games and started one at wide receiver…Had five tackles, including three solo on special teams…Made his first career start at wide receiver vs. Tennessee State (10/4)…Southeast Scholar-Athlete.

2013: Redshirted…Southeast Scholar-Athlete.

Prep: Three-year starter at Marquette Catholic High School…First-Team All-Conference pick on offense and defense…Named his team’s Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior…Garnered All-State and All-Area accolades…Tabbed the USA Today’s top Week 6 performer his senior campaign…Rushed for 1,614 yards and 24 touchdowns his final year as a prep…Ran for 1,000 yards and 16 TDs his junior season…Four-year letterman in football…Helped lead the Explorers to the playoffs all four years…Was also on the track team, where he competed in the triple jump.

Personal: Born August 4, 1995…Majoring in Business…Son of Michael Ford and Tamera Bergman.

Good size & ability, his work ethic and intangibles make him an interesting prospect to keep tabs on. Ford has ‘Diamond in the Rough’ written all over him but do not let the small school tag fool yah, this is a legit prospect. He possesses good size and an excellent ability to jump routes and make plays.

Athletic frame with ability to add bulk and shows good short-area burst and recovery speed. He anticipates the timing of the ball very well and plays with good swagger and physicality. The type of player where an offense identifies early in a game on who to avoid.

He was used in the team’s nickel package, played outside, and used in linebacker/safety roles. Should run 4.4 forty with chance to hit 4.3 and will be training with former Steelers defensive back Ryan Clark at Traction, with the primary focus on technique.