Jaylan Ford selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL Draft
Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford, one of the most productive linebackers to don the burnt orange white this century, was drafted with the No. 175 overall selection in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Ford becomes the ninth Longhorn taken along with Byron Murphy, Xavier Worthy, T’Vondre Sweat, Jonathon Brooks, Adonai Mitchell, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Christian Jones, and Keilan Robinson.
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Ford, a product of Frisco (Texas) Lone Star, played in 49 career games with 29 starts. He was an AP third-team All-American in 2022 and a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022 and 2023. He was also a Butkus Award semifinalist during the Longhorns run to the Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff.
Ford tallied 287 tackles with 27.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in his career. He had six interceptions, good for fourth among linebackers in the history of the program. He also logged 10 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
The unquestioned leader of the defense in 2022 and 2023, Ford reached the 100-tackle mark in both seasons. In 2022 he amassed 119 tackles with 10.0 for loss and two sacks. He had six interceptions, six passes defended, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
He followed that up with a 101-tackle season in 2023, with 10.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, four passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
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The end of the 2021 season saw Ford take on an expanded role over the second half of the season. Ford finished with 53 tackles with 6.0 for loss.
Appearing in 10 games in 1010, Ford had 14 tackles with 1.0 for loss.
Previously committed to Utah out of high school, Ford flipped to Texas just before signing day while the Longhorns were preparing to take on the Utes in the 2019 Alamo Bowl.
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Ford was ranked as the No. 1194 overall prospect, the No. 134 linebacker, and the No. 144 player in Texas according to the 2020 On3 Industry Ranking.
