Paris Ford discusses signing with Pitt, pressure to flip, and more
Rivals100 defensive back Paris Ford has been a cornerstone commit for the Pitt Panthers for nearly 500 days since committing way back in the fall of 2015. On February 1st, 2017 he finally signed with Pitt. The standout future Panther discusses his signing day, pressures to flip away from Pitt, his relationship with five-star Lamont Wade, and much more:
MUNHALL, Pa. -- It's been nearly a year and half between Paris Ford's commitment to Pitt and the day that he could finally officially sign his National Letter of Intent and formalize his plans to enroll at the university. The Rivals100 defensive back is one of the top safeties in the country and has been the subject of adoring attention and intense scrutiny alike for nearly all four years of his high school career.
I joined Ford, his family, and the Steel Valley community on National Signing Day as he put pen to paper and had a conversation with the Munhall (Pa.) product following his signing and celebration. Ford touched on many subjects, from his expectations of his role at Pitt in year one, the pressure to flip being placed upon him, his relationship with the Pitt coaches, and much more.
Rather than write up Ford's thoughts in an editorialized format, I've gathered his quotes and thoughts into groupings based on what he discussed. Find out what the standout Pittsburgh-area prospect had to say on all things recruiting and check out pictures of his signing ceremony embedded at the bottom:
On his feelings about signing with Pitt and ending the process...
- “Yes, what a relief, yes,” Ford laughed, when asked if he was happy for the process to be over.
- “The stress is finally over. I’m proud to be a part of the Panther family now and now it’s time to leave my legacy.”
- “I feel like Pitt is where I should be at. This is where I’ve wanted to play at since I was in sixth grade. I finally had the opportunity.”
- “I always knew that [Pitt] is where I would end up.”
- “I can’t really explain it, it’s so much, but ‘Duzz’s defense fits my scheme and the way I play. He likes physical defensive backs and he can get you to the NFL. That’s my dream.”
On his expectations for his first season on the field for Pitt...
- “Yes sir,” Ford replied when asked if he could play in year one. “As long as I keep my head down, I’ll be on the field.”
- “I’m just staying humble and staying grounded, but once I step foot on campus, I think ‘Duzz will have me under his wing, so I should be ready to go.”
- “I just want to get on the field. I’m just doing whatever they need me to do whether it’s tackle, run, kick, punt, whatever they need me to do. I think I’ll be in the nickel or safety, that’s what I should be playing.”
- “I think next year can be a whole 180-degree turn. We were young in the defensive backs, but now some guys have a whole year under their belts, so I think it’s time for them to step up to the plate now.”
On his role as a Pittsburgh native and the influence it could have by choosing to stay home at Pitt...
“It’s big [to be from the city and stay home] because now I’m a target. Anything I do, it can be the end of my career as I could say, but it’s big. It’s something where I have to be smart. One misstep and that could be it. I have to be smart and be a role model to these two, my little cousins,” Ford said, gesturing over to two young boys behind him in Pitt gear. “I have to be on top of my game all of the time.”
“It’s crazy [to be alongside Jordan Whitehead]. It’s something we talked about the weekend of my official visit,” Ford said, in reference to being asked about being the cornerstone of Pitt’s defense alongside another notable WPIAL recruit.
“I’m just trying to recruit everyone so we can build this family tradition at Pitt. We can strongly build something here, so I stayed.”
“I’m recruiting [2018 WPIAL prospects] Kwantel Raines and Kenny White, I’m coming after them hard. They’re defensive backs and we need defensive backs at Pitt. I think Kwantel is physical and Kenny is more of the coverage type of guy.”
On pressures from programs like Penn State and others who attempted to flip him away from his commitment to Pitt...
- “It’s been kind of stressful hearing from different schools almost every weekend, I just stayed grounded and stayed ten toes down with Pitt. That’s where my heart was telling me to go, so that’s why I committed so early.”
- “Ohio State, Alabama, and Penn State all came to the school. I just had to know what was best for me and my family. Those [head coaches] all have legacies under their belt, but I just want to stay humble and stay grounded with Pitt.”
- “You just have to stay humble and stay blessed through it. It’s great meeting [coaches like Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, and James Franklin], but you have to take it as a business. I never really had to tell them no, because they knew I was grounded with Pitt, but you have to be honest with them.”
- “It was just supposed to be an official visit [to Miami (Fla.)] and I think everyone really blew it out of proportion. It was never anything major. I never pay attention to Twitter though, I’m just working on bettering my craft. All that stuff is just extra.”
On his high school career, including his relationship with five-star cornerback, Penn State signee, and fellow WPIAL product Lamont Wade...
- “It’s history. It probably won’t ever be done for another 10 or 15 years. We mercy ruled everyone. That never has been done. That’s a blessing," Ford said, discussing his state championship run for Steel Valley, in which the Ironmen steamrolled every opponent on their way to a 15-0 record and a title.
- “I’m excited to play Penn State, just from knowing a couple of guys on the team like Miles Sanders and Lamont Wade. Those are guys I grew up with, so it’s going to be fun to play against them in college.”
- “Me and Lamont never had any type of beef. We’ve playing against each other since we were about six or seven years old and he’s a great player. I can’t wait to get on the field against him. We’re friends, but it’s always going to be competitive. Who’s going to say another player is better than them? That’s the type of standard we’re on.”
Take a look at the full photo gallery from Ford's signing at this link.
