Michigan football lands elite linebacker Frederrick Ford

[ASFN Admin]

The biggest weakness for Michigan football in recruiting has been the linebacker position in recent years. Though there have been some high-level players who have chosen the the Wolverines — like former four-star Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng — and other diamonds in the rough, like his classmate Chase Taylor, the maize and blue have struggled to get top linebackers to commit. Additionally, Michigan has struggled to recruit the state of Mississippi.

And in one fell swoop, the Wolverines managed to secure a four-star linebacker from the Magnolia State.

Despite having offered 2027 Greenwood (Miss.) four-star linebacker Frederrick Ford on June 4, the maize and blue vaulted to near the top of his list. Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State loomed large for the multi-sport athlete, but after both an unofficial and official visit to campus last week, he pulled the trigger for Michigan on Thursday.

He made his commitment on CBS Sports’ college football YouTube channel.

Here is the scouting report from 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins:

-Dangly hit-and-run linebacker that can collect stops around the field.-Pairs a projectable 6-foot-3 frame with exceptional athletic markers: 91 explosion score, 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash.-Charges forward and will beat ball carriers and block to the perimeter.-Runs feet through contact, frequently firing through the hips.-Fluid in zone coverage while reach tends to give him an advantage in man-to-man looks.-Got looks in the box, in the slot and up top as a junior while also hunting heads on special teams units.-Will need to improve the sonar in the coming years while also adding some much-needed weight, but has no shortage of developmental upside with his range and physicality.-Projects as a potential impact defender at the Power Four level in an era where everyone wants to get longer and faster.

Here is the full list of commits according to the Rivals Industry Ranking:

• Kalamazoo (Mich.) Loy Norrix four-star OT Jakari Lipsey (No. 95 overall)
• Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Quentin Burrell (No. 101 overall)
• Houston (Tx.) South four-star DL Xavier Muhammad (No. 106 overall)
• Salt Lake City (Utah) West four-star QB Kamden Lopati (No. 132 overall)
• Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star S Tavares Harrington (No. 134 overall)
• Muskegon (Mich.) four-star EDGE Recarder Kitchen (No. 157 overall)
• Jackson (Miss.) Brandon four-star RB Tyson Robinson (No. 213 overall)
• Greenwood (Miss.) four-star LB Frederrick Ford (No. 243 overall)
• Katy (Tx.) Tompkins four-star CB Blake Jenkins (No. 262 overall)
• Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop four-star EDGE Ifeanyi Emedobi (No. 265 overall)
• Lawrenceville (N.J.) School four-star TE Colt Lumpris (No. 273 overall)
• Riverside (Calif.) Notre Dame four-star CB Darius Johnson (No. 316 overall)
• Indianapolis (Ind.) four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer (No. 378 overall)
• Gatineau (Quebec) Brook Hill three-star IOL Sidney Rouleau (No. 459 overall)
• Buford (Ga.) three-star LB Brayden Watson (No. 500 overall)
• Saline (Mich.) three-star IOL Louis Esposito (No. 720 overall)
• Orlando (Fla.) Lake Nona three-star S Charles Woodson Jr. (No. 745 overall)
• Grand Rapids (Mich.) Kenowa Hills three-star ATH Lundon Hampton (No. 838 overall)
• American Fork (Utah) three-star TE Christian Hanshaw (No. 969 overall)

Ford is rated highest by ESPN, as the No. 140 player in the country, regardless of position.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football lands 4-star linebacker Frederrick Ford

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