Ford finds the best fit at Pitt

Brandon Ford has spent quite a bit of time around Pitt, Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers' coaching staff in the last two months.

But when he committed on Sunday, it wasn't the result of a recent visit to Pitt. Rather, it was a trip to another school that pushed him over the top.

"I always said I'll know when it's the right time. So I went and visited Toledo this weekend, and really, it could have been any school, but it just made me realize how much I like being home, and I felt like Pitt was the best school for me.

"There's no other place in the country where I feel that I fit better both academically and athletically."

And so Ford returned from his Toledo visit, talked with his parents, slept on the decision and then woke up Sunday morning with his mind set on the Panthers. He reached out to Narduzzi via Twitter to see if the coaches would be around for an afternoon visit. Narduzzi, offensive line coach John Peterson and Director of Player Development Bob Junko were more than happy to host Ford and his family for an impromptu visit, especially since Ford admits the coaches probably had a hunch about why he wanted to meet with them.

Of course, the Toledo might have been the tipping point in Ford's recruitment, but a visit to Pitt's first spring camp practice a week ago went a long way in confirming his thoughts about the Panthers, too.

"I think that was the last piece that I needed to see: how Coach Narduzzi and Coach (Jim) Chaney and Coach Peterson all interacted with the players and how they were running practice, just seeing the excitement from them," Ford said. "There was a lot of teaching going on, and I felt like they really cared about developing their players and the team on a whole new level."

In fact, Ford thinks Narduzzi and his staff will take Pitt to a new level in the very near future.

"I feel like Pitt is going in the best direction possible and that they're going to be a real power very soon, and I want to be part of that rise, part of the climb back to greatness. I think Coach Narduzzi and the rest of his staff are really bringing a good new energy to the place, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

"I don't think I can say this enough: it's the energy, the attitude. I think they really believe themselves that they can be great, and I think that alone is a really big step in that direction."

Ford picked Pitt over offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Maryland, Ohio, Old Dominion and Toledo. And while he visited Toledo and was planning a visit to Maryland - which has since been called off - the 6'5" 300-pound offensive line prospect admits he always had one destination in mind.

"I think I knew in my heart the whole time that I wanted to be a Pitt Panther," Ford said. "I was trying to look for something that could match up to it, and I realized, why keep looking when I know I'm not going to find anything better?

"In addition to all the things that are happening at Pitt, the distance from home is something that no other school can offer me. I left my house at 3:30 and got to Pitt at 4:05; where else can I do that? I think that's a huge factor. I love the South Side and driving through there and all the excitement there, and just the city of Pittsburgh as a whole is a place where I want to be. All my favorite sports teams are here. I have a true passion for this city."

Now Ford plans to pass some of the passion on to a few other western Pennsylvania recruits.

"I know Rashad Wheeler from Central Catholic and Joshua Lugg from North Allegheny and I've spoken to Damar Hamlin a little bit, so I don't want to say too much, but I think I will reach out to those guys and see where they're at and hope they realize the great things that are happening at Pitt and the great things that happen when you stay home and play for your home school. It's evident with Tyler Boyd, James Conner; these hometown heroes that are really making a difference."

Ford is Pitt's second commitment in the class of 2016, following Lakewood (Oh.) St. Edward defensive back Tony Butler, who committed to the Panthers on Saturday.

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