41 days until Texas Football: Jaylan Ford, the leader of the Longhorn defense, returns for one more campaign

Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on. 

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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best. 

Today is 41 days until kickoff. No. 41 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Jaylan Ford, a senior linebacker.

Jaylan Ford season outlook

Jaylan Ford finished with as many tackles versus Louisiana-Monroe as the 94,873 in the stands at the beginning of the 2022 season. In the succeeding 12 games, Ford tallied 119 tackles, 10.0 of them for loss, along with four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. As part of his AP third-team All-American campaign Ford had seven games with double-digit tackle totals.

Ford’s four interceptions at the linebacker position was a feat only replicated in school history by Derrick Johnson. Ford displayed a nose for the football from the Mike linebacker spot, something usually cliché but verifiably true, in his 2022 campaign.

Expectations for Ford remain high, as he’ll be the leader of the Texas defense based on his experience and the makeup at the position on the current roster. Ford, a fourth-year defender, may have higher expectations for himself.

“I think my motivation is definitely myself,” Ford said at Big 12 Media Days. “Just wanting to be better, better than I was last year. Be better for my teammates and be better for the whole team in general. Every day I get out there, I’ve got to ask myself am I getting better than I was yesterday?”

His responsibilities this year may look slightly different as DeMarvion Overshown has moved onto the NFL. How Ford is able to elevate his game, plus the game of others around him, will be major determining factor for the 2023 Longhorns. Even with that being a story to watch, Ford’s performances over the past season-and-a-half indicate he’ll be one of the best defenders in the league and country.

Ford has played in 35 games with 15 starts in his three years at Texas, amassing 186 career tackles (95 solo) while also producing 17 tackles for a loss, two sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Ford was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022. He had four interceptions in 2022 to tie for the Texas season record for a linebacker, last accomplished by Derrick Johnson in 2002 and 2003. He garnered 2022 Defensive Player of the Year mention by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

Ford earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2021 and is a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2020, spring 2021).

Jaylan Ford as a recruit

Ford was ranked as the No. 1191 overall prospect, the No. 134 linebacker, and the No. 144 player in Texas in the 2020 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

Recent player to wear No. 41: Jamison Berryhill

Berryhill played in 34 career games at fullback and on special teams, had 16 special teams tackles and one fumble recovery and carried the ball nine times for 34 yards for his career. 

A former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship prior to his junior season, Berryhill was a five-time member of Texas Athletics Director’s Honor Roll, a first team Academic All-Big 12 selection in 2011 and two-time second-team Academic All-Big 12 performer.

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All-Americans to wear No. 41

Jaylan Ford, LB, 2022

Joe Cook co-authored this article