Ron LaForce, New Mexico State : 2019 NFL Draft

2017 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year
2017 All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
2017 Phil Steele All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team

2017 (Junior)
Played in all 13 games and made 11 starts… Started the final 11 games of the season… One of three Aggies to finish with 100-plus tackles after compiling 104 tackles (55 solo and 49 assisted)… Picked off a pair of passes in a road win at rival New Mexico… Four double-figure tackle games… 14 tackles vs Troy (9/16), career-high 16 tackles at Arkansas (9/30), 12 tackles vs Arkansas State (10/28) and 15 tackles at Louisiana (11/18)… Six tackles and a pass breakup in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl victory against Utah State (12/29).

2016 (College of the Sequoias)
Earned 2016 all-state honors and All-Valley League defensive team honors as a sophomore after totaling 66 tackles (52 solo), five interceptions, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery… His 7.3 tackles per game in 2016 were good for fifth in the conference… His five picks tied for eighth-most in the California Community College Athletic Association.
 
High School
Played at Alma Bryant High School for Bruce Breland with former NM State wide receiver, Connor Cramer… Was a 2014 all-state defensive back as a senior and earned back-to-back all-region honors his junior and senior campaign.

Growing up LaForce played baseball and football. His father told him baseball was his better sport, but he felt football was the sport he held most dear. In the end is was the sport that got him to explore the United States outside of Mobile County, Alabama.

Undersized while playing high school football in Mobile, Alabama he was off the radar of D1 programs (his goal) and decided to attend the College of the Sequoias in California. LaForce established himself quickly as the defensive force in the secondary.  

His play attracted D1 schools and he ended up playing his junior and senior seasons with the Aggies. He recorded back-to-back 100 tackles seasons and was named the new-comer of the year in the conference after the conclusion of his junior year with the Aggies of New Mexico State.

The stage was set for LaForce to continue to build off his breakout junior season. The so-called undersized safety kept doing what came naturally and at the end of his senior season he was invited to play in the Gridiron Showcase and Tropical Bowl, which he was named defensive MVP.

LaForce said NFL scouts mentioned he reminded them of “Harrison Smith” of the Minnesota Vikings. A hefty and wondeful complement to acknowledge to LaForce who is eagerly trying to prove his worth counting down the days to the 2019 NFL Draft.

This young southerner is as pleasant as a sunset over Mobile Bay, which contradicts his nickname ‘Psychol Ron’ due to his relentless, energetic passion play after play.

He is tough and aggressive with good instincts. Keeps coming and coming every play. LaForce has built his game up and improved each season. He has also shown his adaptability to learn new playbooks and gel with teammates. Supports the run and will stick his nose in to tackle. Strong pound-for-pound.

LaForce has proven to be a curious prospect to look deeper into. New Mexico State has their Pro Day scheduled for noon on March 12^th. It is an indicator of how teams will perceive his abilities moving forward. Posting a speed that will allow them to feel comfortable to cover slot receivers should go a long way to getting him into camp.

New Mexico State is not the hot bed of NFL Draft lineage into the National Football League, but their current 2019 NFL Draft class has many intriguing prospects and one of those players is none other than LaForce.

Chris Maragos and Clayton Fejedelem come to mind when eyeing up LaForce. Each player carved out long NFL careers specializing their skills on special teams and building on their ability to play safety.