Illinois Football: Illini offer class of 2022 defensive end Tyson Ford
By Zain Bando
Who is four-star recruit and Illinois football target Tyson Ford?
Tyson Ford is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound weak-side defensive end from St. Louis, Missouri. As part of the class of 2022, Ford has shown significant interest from Illinois, Arizona State, Arkansas State and Kansas. As a four-star recruit, Ford is ranked as the sixth-best player in Missouri and plays for John Burroughs High School. He is also the No. 219 player in the class of 2022.
Ford is entering his junior season with John Burroughs and quietly made a name for himself in 2019. Ford was named as a first-team all-conference defensive end, leading his team to a 7-4 record, which is a sign of improvement as the fall approaches.
Ford recognizes that he still has a few years of development left, making him less stressed about the recruiting process.
“I haven’t visited any of these schools but I intend to once everything clears up in the world. I’m not too worried about visiting these colleges though since it is very early in my high school career,“ Ford told 247 Sports.
The Tale of the Tape
Ford has a lot of hype behind him as he enters his upperclassmen years. After watching the film, he is quick off the edge and loves to swarm the ball. He is always active and keeps his feet balanced. Even if he doesn’t make the hit, his contributions pay dividends in fumble recoveries and sacks.
Snagging Ford would be huge for the Orange and Blue because of Illinois’ continued pursuit of the St. Louis market and the sudden turnaround that the program is going through. The more who buy-in, the better it could benefit everyone.
Ford would fit perfectly, considering that the incoming classes will continue to get smaller. However, only time will tell, as college football looks to safely return in August amid the current global pandemic.