When all three Longhorn defensive tackle commits left the class following Charlie Strong’s hire, the fan base panicked. After taking no tackles last year and facing the same dilemma this year, the position was in dire need of an infusion of talent. Enter Poona Ford, a former Louisville commit under Strong who is here to add that talent to the mix and join the “All Name Team.”
At 6’1 and 288 lbs, the Hilton Head (SC) High School standout looks to be really underrated at this point. Ford does not rank in the top 250 players in the nation according to Rivals, and is ranked 24th in the state of South Carolina. In my opinion, Ford’s talent replaces any of the three former commits who left with Zaycoven Henderson being the only other player on his level. Ford was named to the East team for the Semper Fi All-American Bowl where he was a standout all week. He also played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas where he was named one of the toughest to block. Ford chose Texas over offers from Missouri, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, and Tennessee.
The Horns will lose Chris Whaley to graduation and aside from Malcom Brown, have some real questions at a thin tackle position. The coaching staff will look to Desmond Jackson, Hassan Ridgeway, and Paul Boyette to fill in at the other position and need depth desperately. Reeling in Ford was a big acquisition for this new staff that has had their share of challenges on the recruiting trail. As always, the tape doesn’t lie so let’s get to the film.
Film Analysis:
At first glance the thing you notice is his Ford’s quickness. His first step is explosive and his technique and leverage allow him to quickly penetrate and stop plays in the backfield. From what I’ve seen, Ford profiles as a one gap tackle. When he gets off the ball quickly (which is often) he can overwhelm linemen on the bull rush with a blend of strength and leverage. Ford shows surprising closing speed for a tackle that seems to get faster as he gets through the line. His film shows maybe the best tackling technique I’ve seen out of a Texas commit this year. When he reaches the ball carrier, he comes in low wrapping up the waist or legs and explodes through his man for some truly devastating take downs. His lateral movement is adequate and he shows a skill for pursuing down the line when the play goes outside. His quick hands allow him to get inside and control his opponent and he understands how to use them. Ford also looks like a guy who can play on the end in a three-man front and not be overwhelmed. His frame looks close to maxed out, so I’m not sure how much more weight he can add. He is a bit undersized and if he doesn’t get off to a quick step he can be overpowered by stronger linemen.
Final Verdict:
While I’m not the type to get too caught up in rankings, I think the reason that Ford is rated lower than most players is that he’s probably closer to his ceiling. What you see is what you get with Poona and that’s a guy who can probably figure into the tackle rotation in the next two years. I don’t see him being a guy who reaches an All-American level, but he could certainly garner all-conference honors while giving the Horns a steady performer in the middle of their line. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with those guys, not everyone is going to be an All-everything player. These are the guys you win with, and Ford’s play and leadership are invaluable to the Longhorn coaching staff. Ford looks polished enough to figure into the position battle right away if he gets on campus and works hard.
