Jaylan Ford comments on his potential NFL draft decision
Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford earned third-team All-America and first-team All-Big 12 honors for his 2022 campaign. He filled up the stat sheet in the 11 games following his zero-tackle performance to open the year against Louisiana-Monroe, finishing the regular season with 109 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions.
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After such a strong third season, Ford surely piqued the interest of NFL evaluators. He was asked Monday if he had made any sort of determination about his future with regards to declaring for the 2023 NFL draft.
“So I think right now, just really being focused on Washington and just enjoying this Alamo Bowl with my teammates, which I consider my brothers,” Ford said. “All of us, we’re spending Christmas together. This is really just my family. Kind of just keeping my head where my feet are I think is my main focus right now, and then we’ll just go from there.”
Texas defensive coordinator was on the dais with Ford, and he had a quick response for his standout linebacker.
“That’s not the answer we wanted to hear, Jaylan, but that’s alright,” he joked.
Ford was asked what his plans would be following the bowl game. Players can submit their names into the NFL Draft Advisory Board, who will return to them one of three grades: first round, second round, or return to school.
That will be a small part of the information Ford accumulates following Texas’ Valero Alamo Bowl matchup with the Washington Huskies on Thursday night.
“It’s so new to me,” Ford said. “I think I’m just trying to get all the feedback and everything I could possibly get to make the best decision for myself.”
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Kwiatkowski was later asked about the season Ford had, and offered effusive praise in his answer.
“Jaylan had an unbelievable year,” Kwiatkowski said. “It started last off-season. You saw the change in his focus and his consistency and his attention to detail when it came to diet, workouts, just all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes that he does with Coach (Torre) Becton and the strength staff, and then his level of understanding the defense grew, his communication grew. With that, the confidence grows, and then he goes out and makes plays. Again, it’s a credit to these guys and how they go about their business week in and week out, preparing for the next opponent.”
“His ability to create turnovers, make turnovers, get the ball on the ground, get guys lined up, setting the front, making the checks, there’s a lot that goes into it other than just the physical stuff you see, and his growth has been awesome. That’s why as a coach, Coach (Jeff) Choate, myself, all our coaches, when guys do that, that’s the satisfaction that we’re doing something right.”
“And the guys’ buy-in, all these guys’ buy-in, it starts with that. They trust in us, we trust in them, they trust each other, and then the guys that make plays, like Jaylan, like all these guys, you go out on Saturday, whatever day that is, game day, and cut it loose, and let’s go.”
Ford was a member of Texas’ class of 2020. He has played in 34 career games and has recorded 176 total tackles with 17.0 for loss and two sacks.
