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Jacoby Ford
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Jacoby Ford (born July 27, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was also an accomplished track and field athlete. He played college football as a wide receiver and return specialist for the Clemson Tigers at Clemson University, where he competed in sprinting events. During his stint in the NFL, Ford was widely regarded as one of the fastest players in the league.[1] He has one of the top 100 meter times by NFL players.
Key Information
Ford has been the WR coach at West Boca Raton High School since 2023. Previously, he was a WR coach at Cardinal Newman, where he attended as a high schooler.
Ford received the 2022 Palm Beach County Legends Award[2] and was inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.[3]
Early life
[edit]His brother, Davy Ford, played football at Florida State. Jacoby attended Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he earned two letters in football and one in track. As a senior, he recorded 22 receptions for 550 yards and ten touchdowns. He was named the Palm Beach County All-Star Game most valuable player and a second-team all-state player.
In 2005, he attended preparatory school at the Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia. There he recorded seven kick returns for touchdowns, 57 receptions for 1,254 yards and nine touchdowns, and 12 rushing attempts for 306 yards and three touchdowns.[4] At the Fork Union Military Academy combine, he reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.126 seconds.[5][6] Rivals.com ranked him the number-17 prep school player in the nation and called him the "fastest player on the East Coast". The head coach John Schuman called him "the fastest player ever at Fork Union", a school which has produced 87 NFL draft picks and two Heisman Trophy winners.[4]
Ford was recruited by Clemson, Florida, Michigan State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.[4]
College career
[edit]Ford enrolled at Clemson University, where he majored in sociology. In 2006 as a true freshman, he saw action in 12 of 13 games. He recorded 15 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns, and eight rushing attempts for 104 yards, 23 punt returns for 166 yards and one touchdown, and 13 kick returns for 426 yards and one touchdown.[7]
During the 2007 football season, he saw action in eight of 13 games. He recorded 17 receptions for 310 yards and four touchdowns, 14 rushing attempts for 172 yards, 18 punt returns for 108 yards, and eight kick returns for 211 yards.[7] His season ended early when he suffered a broken ankle against Maryland.[8]
In 2008, he saw action in all 13 games. He recorded 55 receptions for 710 yards and four touchdowns, 18 rushing attempts for 96 yards, 21 punt returns for 62 yards, and 17 kick returns for 313 yards.[7]
Prior to the 2009 season, the NFL Draft Scout ranked Ford as the seventh out of 310 available wide receiver prospects for the 2010 NFL draft.[9]
In the Tigers' 40–24 victory over the Florida State Seminoles on November 7, 2009, Ford and C. J. Spiller became the greatest all-purpose duo in NCAA history (a record previously held by Marshall Faulk and Darnay Scott of San Diego State).
Track and field
[edit]Ford was the 2005 Florida state 100-meter dash champion reportedly with a time of 10.32 seconds (he ran a wind assisted 10.21 on another occasion),[10] and 200-meter dash champion with a time of 21.18 seconds.[4]
During 2007, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Indoor Freshman of the Year. In the 60-meter dash, he set an ACC record, and the national best for the year, at 6.52 seconds.[11] Ford was also named the Southeast Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, and he was awarded National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American, All-East Region, and All-ACC honors.[12]
In February 2009, at the Virginia Tech Elite Meet, Ford ran a 6.51-second 60-meter dash, which was one-hundredth of a second shy of the NCAA Championship meet record.[13] In March, he won the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.[14] During the track season, he was again named an NCAA All-American, All-East Region, and All-ACC athlete with a fastest time of 10.01.[12][15]
- Personal bests
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 meters | 6.51 | Blacksburg, Virginia | February 28, 2009 |
| 100 meters | 10.01 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | June 10, 2009[16] |
| 200 meters | 20.88 | Coral Gables, Florida | April 18, 2009 |
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 8+7⁄8 in (1.75 m) |
186 lb (84 kg) |
30+1⁄2 in (0.77 m) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) |
4.28 s | 1.48 s | 2.50 s | 4.44 s | 7.00 s | 33.5 in (0.85 m) |
9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) |
15 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine[17][18] | ||||||||||||
Oakland Raiders
[edit]On April 24, Ford was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft with the 108th pick overall.[19] He had 6 receptions for 148 yards and also returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 7, 2010. This was his career-best receiving total. Ford was a pivotal weapon against the Chiefs recording 148 receiving yards, 47 yards of which came on a pass from Jason Campbell to set up Sebastian Janikowski for the 33-yard field goal to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 23-20 in overtime. For his spectacular play in Week 9 against Kansas City, Ford was voted as the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. Ford was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2010. He had a 94-yard touchdown on a kickoff return against the Kansas City Chiefs and a 101-yard return for a score against the Miami Dolphins, the latter the third longest in club history. On December 26, 2010, Ford returned the opening kickoff for 100 yards against the Indianapolis Colts, going end-to-end in 11 seconds.[20] Ford also holds the Raiders record for the most kickoff returns for a touchdown in a season at 3. During the Week 6 game of the 2011 season, Ford set the Raiders franchise record for the most kickoffs returned for touchdowns in franchise history with 4, after his 101-yard kick off return for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. In the offseason of 2014 the Raiders decided to not offer Ford a new contract.[21]
New York Jets
[edit]Ford was signed by the New York Jets on April 1, 2014.[22] He was released on August 24.[23]
Tennessee Titans
[edit]The Tennessee Titans signed Ford to a futures contract on January 14, 2015.[24] He signed a one-year, $660,000 contract but was waived as a part of the final cuts on September 5, 2015.
Edmonton Eskimos
[edit]On February 19, 2016, he was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.[25] On June 19, 2016, Ford was released as a part of Edmonton's final roster cuts.
Montreal Alouettes
[edit]After recovering from an injured hamstring, he was signed to the Alouettes' practice roster on July 8, 2016.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
[edit]Ford signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League for the 2017 season. He was released on April 25, 2018.
NFL statistics
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Receptions | Targets | Reception Yards | Yards per Reception | Longest Reception | Receiving Touchdowns | First Downs | Fumbles | Lost Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | OAK | 16 | 25 | 53 | 470 | 18.8 | 52 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | OAK | 8 | 19 | 33 | 279 | 14.7 | 41 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 | OAK | 14 | 13 | 24 | 99 | 7.6 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 38 | 57 | 110 | 848 | 14.9 | 52 | 3 | 38 | 3 | 2 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Top Five Fastest Players in the NFL". Yahoo. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
- ^ "JACOBY FORD HONORED WITH 2022 PALM BEACH COUNTY LEGENDS AWARD PRESENTED BY THE DAVID A. BURKE FOUNDATION". Boca Bowl. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ Report, Post Staff. "Football's Matt Elam, Jacoby Ford, Antone Smith head Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame class". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Player Bio: Jacoby Ford Archived March 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Football, Clemson University, retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ Clemson's Jacoby Ford turning blazing speed into receiving success Archived December 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The Anderson Independent-Mail, August 24, 2007.
- ^ Fresh hype (cont.), Sports Illustrated, August 11, 2006.
- ^ a b c Jacoby Ford Stats, ESPN, retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ Injury bug turns attention to Clemson, The Post and Courier, October 28, 2007.
- ^ Jacoby Ford, Clemson, WR, The NFL Draft Scout, retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "2005 MEN'S HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS". Archived from the original on June 22, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ Clemson's Jacoby Ford Named ACC Indoor Freshman of the Year[permanent dead link], Tiger Net, March 5, 2007.
- ^ a b Player Bio: Jacoby Ford Archived April 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Men's Track & Field, Clemson University, retrieved June 6, 2009.
- ^ Of course Jacoby Ford knows this means sprint war, Rivals.com, February 17, 2009.
- ^ Jacoby Ford, NFL Draft, CBS Sports, retrieved May 23, 2009.
- ^ "Collegiate Outdoor All-Time List - Men". Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "All-time men's best 100m". Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ "Jacoby Ford, Clemson, WR, 2010 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Jacoby Ford 2010 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ "Indianapolis at Oakland | 2010-12-26 | National Football League | Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
- ^ "Jacoby Ford to enter NFL free agency - Jacoby Ford Clemson Football Player Update". TigerNet. March 9, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
- ^ Allen, Eric (April 1, 2014). "Jets Add WR Jacoby Ford". New York Jets. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ Lange, Randy (August 24, 2014). "Jets Release 6 to Get to 75 Players". New York Jets. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
- ^ Wilkening, Mike (January 14, 2015). "Titans agree with Jacoby Ford, Clyde Gates on reserve/future contracts". NBCSports.com. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
- ^ Connor Hughes (February 19, 2016). "Ex-Jets Joe McKnight, Jacoby Ford sign with CFL's Edmonton Eskimos". Jetswire.USAToday.com. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ^ "Jacoby Ford". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
External links
[edit]Jacoby Ford
View on GrokipediaEarly years
Childhood and high school
Jacoby Ford was born on July 27, 1987, in West Palm Beach, Florida.[1] He grew up in a family with a strong athletic heritage; his mother, Patricia Ford, was a standout track athlete who anchored the state championship 4x100-meter relay team at Glades Central High School in 1979, while his father, Davy Ford Sr., and brother, Davy Ford Jr., also pursued competitive sports, with the latter playing running back at Florida State University.[6][7][8] Ford attended Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, where he earned two varsity letters in football and one in track and field.[9] As a senior in 2004, he excelled as a wide receiver, recording 22 receptions for 550 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning him MVP honors in the 2005 Palm Beach County All-Star Game.[7] His track prowess shone in his only year competing for the school, culminating in a state championship win in the 100-meter dash at the 2005 Florida High School Athletic Association meet, where he clocked a time of 10.32 seconds.[10] Seeking to enhance his recruiting profile ahead of college, Ford transferred to Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for a postgraduate year in 2005.[1] There, he posted impressive football numbers with 57 receptions for 1,254 yards, showcasing his speed and receiving ability.[11] He also ran a verified 4.126-second 40-yard dash during his time at the academy, a mark that highlighted his elite athleticism.[12] This performance at Fork Union paved the way for his commitment to Clemson University.Athletic beginnings
Jacoby Ford was born on July 27, 1987, in West Palm Beach, Florida, into a family deeply immersed in athletics. His father, Davy Ford Sr., had been a running back at Glades Central High School, and his mother, Patricia Ford, starred in track there as the anchor of the state championship 4x100 relay team.[6] Ford's older brother, Davy Ford, extended the family's football legacy by playing running back at Florida State University from 1997 to 2000.[13] This athletic household provided strong support and inspiration for Ford's pursuits, instilling a competitive drive from a young age. Recognizing his son's innate speed early on, Ford's father, a former athlete himself, encouraged him to develop it through both football and track activities alongside his peers.[14] This guidance fostered Ford's foundational skills as a versatile athlete during his elementary and middle school years in West Palm Beach, where community sports programs offered initial outlets for his talents, particularly in football. His emerging quickness and agility in these settings built the discipline and multi-sport adaptability that characterized his later development at Cardinal Newman High School.[14]College career
Football
Jacoby Ford enrolled at Clemson University in 2006 and played for the Tigers football team through the 2009 season, majoring in sociology and graduating in December 2009.[7] As a wide receiver and return specialist, Ford utilized his exceptional speed—honed through parallel success in track and field—to stretch defenses and create explosive plays, averaging 13.9 yards per reception over his career.[15] His versatility allowed him to contribute both as a pass catcher and on special teams, including punt and kick returns, where he scored three return touchdowns during his tenure.[15] Ford's most productive season came in 2008, when he recorded 55 receptions for 710 yards and four touchdowns, ranking among the Atlantic Coast Conference leaders in receptions (sixth), receiving yards (fifth), and receiving touchdowns (sixth).[15] Over his full career, he amassed 143 receptions for 1,986 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns, along with 494 rushing yards on 58 carries, showcasing his multi-faceted role in Clemson's offense.[15] Notable performances included a 75-yard touchdown reception in a 2006 rivalry game against South Carolina, highlighting his big-play ability early in his college career.[16] During Ford's time at Clemson, the Tigers competed in the ACC, finishing with records of 9-4 in 2006, 9-4 in 2007, 7-6 in 2008, and 9-5 in 2009, with appearances in four consecutive bowl games: the Music City Bowl (loss to Kentucky in 2006), Chick-fil-A Bowl (loss to Auburn in 2007), Gator Bowl (loss to Nebraska following the 2008 season), and Music City Bowl (win over Kentucky in 2009).[17] Ford contributed to these efforts, particularly in 2009 when he led the team with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, two rushing, one on punt return).[15] Pre-draft evaluations praised Ford's elite speed, evidenced by his 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine—the fastest time among all participants—and his versatility as a slot receiver, returner, and occasional rusher, which positioned him as an immediate special teams asset with deep-threat potential.[18] These attributes led to his selection by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.[1]Track and field
Jacoby Ford's track and field career began to flourish in high school, where he won the Florida Class 2A state championship in the 100-meter dash in 2005 with a wind-aided time of 10.32 seconds, establishing a strong foundation for his collegiate dominance at Clemson University.[19] At Clemson, Ford excelled in sprint events, capturing the NCAA Division I indoor 60-meter dash national championship in 2009 by running 6.51 seconds in the preliminary round, followed by a 6.52-second final that tied the meet record.[20][3] He also set Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) records in the 60-meter dash, first as a freshman in 2007 with 6.52 seconds and improving it to 6.51 seconds in 2009, while winning the ACC indoor title in the event multiple times.[21][3] In outdoor competition, Ford claimed the ACC 100-meter dash championship in 2009 with a time of 10.28 seconds into a headwind and later ran a personal best of 10.01 seconds at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning All-American honors in the event.[22][23] Overall, he garnered multiple All-American accolades across sprint disciplines during his Clemson tenure, including four such honors for his performances in the 60-meter and 100-meter dashes.[14] Ford's exceptional track speed, evidenced by his sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash equivalents derived from his sprint times, significantly enhanced his profile as an NFL draft prospect by highlighting his elite acceleration and straight-line quickness.[24][25] This prowess also translated briefly to his role as a return specialist in college football, where his sprinting ability allowed for explosive plays on kickoffs and punts.[26]NFL career
Oakland Raiders
Jacoby Ford was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round, 108th overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft after a standout combine performance where he recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time overall at 4.28 seconds.[1] As a rookie in 2010, Ford quickly emerged as a dynamic return specialist and occasional wide receiver, appearing in all 16 games with nine starts. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors for November after returning two kickoffs for touchdowns—a 94-yard return against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 7 and a 101-yard return against the Miami Dolphins on November 28—while also contributing 283 receiving yards and one touchdown reception that month.[27] Additionally, his performance in Week 9, which included 148 receiving yards, the 94-yard kickoff return touchdown, and a rushing touchdown, led to him being named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week.[28] Over his four seasons with the Raiders from 2010 to 2013, Ford played in 38 games with 13 starts, recording 57 receptions for 848 yards and three receiving touchdowns, alongside 19 rushes for 201 yards and two rushing scores. His most significant impact came on special teams, where he amassed 1,874 kickoff return yards on 75 attempts, including four touchdowns that highlighted his elite speed. In 2010 alone, Ford led the NFL with three kickoff return touchdowns and set a Raiders single-season record with 1,280 return yards, averaging 24.2 yards per return.[1] He also received AFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition in Weeks 9 and 16 of 2010,[29] as well as Week 6 of 2011 for a 101-yard kickoff return against the Cleveland Browns.[30] Ford's return prowess peaked with standout plays like his 101-yard kickoff touchdown against the Cleveland Browns on October 16, 2011, which helped secure a 24-17 victory and tied for the third-longest in Raiders history at the time. He holds the franchise record for the most kickoff return touchdowns in a single season with three in 2010, a mark that underscored his role as one of the league's premier returners during his tenure. Ford was released by the Raiders in March 2014, paving the way for his signing with the New York Jets.[31][32]New York Jets and Tennessee Titans
After being released by the Oakland Raiders following the 2013 season, Jacoby Ford signed with the New York Jets as an unrestricted free agent on April 1, 2014, primarily to bolster their wide receiver depth and return game options.[33][12] During training camp and preseason, Ford competed for roles as a wideout and special teams returner but struggled to secure a consistent spot amid a crowded receiver corps, recording limited snaps without standout performances.[34] He was released by the Jets on August 24, 2014, as part of roster reductions to 75 players ahead of the deadline, ending his brief tenure without appearing in any regular-season games.[35][36] Ford remained unsigned for the entire 2014 NFL season before joining the Tennessee Titans on a reserve/futures contract on January 14, 2015, again targeting opportunities as a return specialist leveraging his prior experience.[37][38] Throughout the 2015 training camp and preseason, he participated in practices and drills, vying for a roster spot in a competitive wide receiver group, but did not record significant statistics or secure a defined role.[39][40] The Titans waived Ford on September 5, 2015, during final cuts to reach the 53-man roster, marking another short-lived NFL opportunity without regular-season action.[41][42] These stints represented Ford's attempts to revive his NFL career as a versatile returner and depth receiver after his more productive years with the Raiders, though injuries from prior seasons and roster competition limited his involvement to off-season and camp periods.[39]NFL statistics
Jacoby Ford's NFL career spanned four seasons with the Oakland Raiders from 2010 to 2013, during which he appeared in 38 games. Over this period, he recorded 57 receptions for 848 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns, 19 rushing attempts for 201 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, and 75 kickoff returns for 1,874 yards and 4 touchdowns, contributing to a total of 9 touchdowns. He also had 9 punt returns for 77 yards.[1] The following table provides a year-by-year breakdown of Ford's receiving, rushing, and return statistics:| Year | Team | Games | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs | Rushing Attempts | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Kickoff Returns | Kickoff Return Yards | Kickoff Return TDs | Punt Returns | Punt Return Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | OAK | 16 | 25 | 470 | 2 | 10 | 155 | 2 | 53 | 1,280 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | OAK | 8 | 19 | 279 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 11 | 341 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | OAK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | OAK | 14 | 13 | 99 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 253 | 0 | 9 | 77 |
| Career Totals | 38 | 57 | 848 | 3 | 19 | 201 | 2 | 75 | 1,874 | 4 | 9 | 77 |