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Keith Ford
Keith Ford
Keith Ford
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Keith Ford (born April 18, 1994) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies. He was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2018, and was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers.

Key Information

Early life and high school

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Growing up, Ford's family moved often as his father, Keith Ford Sr., served in the United States Marine Corps. This included a seven-year stay in Okinawa, Japan until his father retired and the family moved to Cypress, Texas. Ford attended Cypress Ranch High School, where he played football, basketball, and ran track.[1] As a senior, Ford rushed for 1,868 yards on 280 carries, scoring 24 touchdowns and participated in the Under Armour All-America Game. Ford led his Mustang team to a regional final playoff appearance, where they were defeated by the eventual state champion, Katy High School, by a score of 70-21. A five-star recruit, he was the third-ranked running back prospect in the nation and ultimately committed to the University of Oklahoma.[2]

College career

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Oklahoma

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As a freshman Ford appeared in ten games, rushing for 134 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries.[1] He rushed 71 times for 392 yards (third most on the team) and scored six total touchdowns in eight games as a sophomore, but lost his starting job to true freshman Samaje Perine while out due to injury.[3] Ford was suspended indefinitely from the football team due to academic and team rules violations.[4] Nine days later, Ford announced that he would be transferring and ultimately decided to move on to Texas A&M.[5]

Texas A&M

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After sitting out one season due to NCAA transfer rules, Ford was the Aggies second-leading rusher with 669 yards as a redshirt junior.[6] As a senior, he rushed for 548 yards and led the team with 12 rushing touchdowns.[7][8] Over the course of his collegiate career, Ford rushed for 1,743 yards on 359 carries (4.9 yards per carry) and 24 touchdowns in 44 games.[9]

Professional career

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Buffalo Bills

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Ford signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018.[10] He was cut by the Bills at the end of the preseason and subsequently re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 2, 2018.[11] Ford was promoted to the Bills' active roster on December 12, 2018 after an injury to starting running back LeSean McCoy.[12]

Ford made his NFL debut on December 16, 2018 in a 14–13 win against the Detroit Lions, rushing for a team-high 46 yards on 14 carries and catching a pass for seven yards.[13] He made his first career start the next week on December 23, 2018 in a 24–12 loss to the New England Patriots, again leading the team in rushing with 33 yards on seven carries and catching two passes for 14 yards.[14] As a rookie, Ford appeared in two games (one start) with 79 yards rushing on 21 carries and three receptions for 21 yards.[15]

On May 13, 2019, Ford was waived by the Bills.[16]

Indianapolis Colts

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Ford was signed by the Indianapolis Colts on July 28, 2019.[17] He was waived on August 5, 2019.[18]

Green Bay Packers

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On August 6, 2019, Ford was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers.[19] He was released on August 31, 2019.[20]

St. Louis BattleHawks

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Ford signed with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL on January 9, 2020.[21] Ford rushed ten times for 52 yards and two touchdowns before the 2020 XFL season was cancelled following growing concerns about the COVID-19 virus.[22] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[23]

Arlington Renegades

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Ford was selected by the Arlington Renegades in the 2023 XFL draft.[24]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Keith Ford

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from Grokipedia
Keith Ford (born April 18, 1994) is an American football running back who played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies before pursuing a professional career in the National Football League (NFL) and XFL. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 219 pounds, Ford is known for his powerful running style and has accumulated over 1,700 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns during his collegiate tenure. Ford attended in , where he was rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 4 in the nation by . He began his college career at the in 2013, appearing in limited action as a before starting three games as a sophomore in 2014, where he rushed for 392 yards and five touchdowns. After transferring to in 2015, Ford sat out the 2015 season due to NCAA transfer rules but emerged as a key contributor in 2016 with 669 rushing yards and six touchdowns, followed by a senior year in 2017 in which he led the (SEC) with 12 rushing touchdowns and 548 rushing yards. Over his full college career spanning 39 games, Ford totaled 1,743 rushing yards on 359 carries (5.0 yards per carry), 24 rushing touchdowns, and added 305 receiving yards with one receiving touchdown. Going undrafted in the , Ford signed with the as an undrafted free agent, appearing in two games during the 2018 season and recording 79 rushing yards on 21 carries along with 21 receiving yards on three catches. In 2019, he briefly signed with the before being claimed off waivers by the , though he did not appear in regular-season games for either team. Transitioning to alternative professional leagues, Ford played for the in the , where he scored his first professional touchdown, and later joined the Arlington Renegades for the .

Early life and education

Family background and childhood

Keith Ford was born on April 18, 1994, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He is the son of Keith Ford Sr., a retired member of the United States Marine Corps, and Mary Ford, who worked as a bank manager. His father's military career significantly shaped the family's lifestyle, leading to frequent relocations during Ford's early years. The Ford family spent seven years living in Okinawa, Japan, from when Keith was six until he was thirteen, as a result of his father's stationing there. Following his father's retirement from the , the family relocated to the area in , settling in , where Ford attended . These moves exposed Ford to diverse environments early on, including time on military bases in the United States and abroad. The constant transitions fostered Ford's adaptability and , traits he attributes to his upbringing in a . His parents emphasized discipline and hard work, with his father sharing stories from his Marine service that instilled a strong sense of perseverance in Ford from a young age. This dynamic, marked by his father's service as a central influence, helped shape Ford's resilient character during his formative years.

High school career

Keith Ford attended in , where he played football as a . As a senior in the 2012 season, Ford rushed for 1,868 yards on 280 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per carry, and scored 24 touchdowns, helping lead the Mustangs to a strong performance. He was recognized as a five-star recruit by and ranked as the third-best nationally by , earning invitations to major all-star events. Ford participated in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game, showcasing his skills against top national prospects. During his recruitment, he committed to the in March 2012, choosing the over offers from programs including and Texas A&M.

College career

Keith Ford joined the as a highly touted recruit from in , where he was rated as one of the top prospects in . As a in 2013, Ford appeared in 5 games, primarily in a backup role behind established backs like Brennan Clay and Roy Finch. He recorded 23 carries for 134 rushing yards and 1 touchdown, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, contributing sparingly to an offense that relied on a approach during a 11-2 season that included a victory in the . In his sophomore year of 2014, Ford emerged as a starter early in the season, sharing carries with true freshman . He played in 8 games, rushing for 392 yards on 71 carries with 5 rushing s, while also adding 140 receiving yards and 1 receiving for a total of 6 scores. However, a fractured foot suffered in Week 3 against sidelined him for five games, limiting his overall participation and contributing to a mid-season shift where Perine assumed the primary starting role and set school records with 1,713 rushing yards. Following the 2014 season, Ford faced an indefinite suspension in March for violations of academic and team rules, which effectively ended his time with the . In May , Ford announced his decision to transfer, citing a desire for a better fit with the coaching staff and considering his remaining three years of eligibility. Over his two seasons at , Ford's contributions were hampered by injuries, depth chart competition, and the emergence of Perine, totaling 526 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns in 13 games while providing depth to an offense that went 7-2 in Big 12 play in 2013 and 5-4 in 2014.

After transferring from following academic and team-related challenges, Keith Ford sat out the 2015 season at Texas A&M due to NCAA transfer regulations, preserving his eligibility as a junior for 2016. In his junior year of 2016, Ford emerged as a key contributor in the Aggies' backfield, serving as the second-leading rusher on the team with 669 yards on 126 carries and six touchdowns over 13 games. His performance helped solidify the running game, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and providing consistent production behind starter Trayveon Williams. As a senior in 2017, Ford took on an expanded role, leading the team in rushing touchdowns with 12 while accumulating 548 yards on 139 carries across 13 games, despite a lower average of 3.9 yards per carry. His touchdown output tied for the lead in the Southeastern Conference, highlighting his effectiveness in short-yardage and goal-line situations as a vital power back for the Aggies. Over his two seasons at A&M, Ford rushed for 1,217 yards and 18 touchdowns on 265 carries in 26 games, establishing himself as a reliable complement to the team's passing attack. Across his full college career at both and A&M, he totaled 1,743 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on 359 carries in 39 games.

Professional career

Buffalo Bills

After going undrafted in the , Keith Ford signed with the as a on May 11, 2018. He appeared in four preseason games for the Bills, showcasing his versatility from his time at Texas A&M, but was waived on September 1, 2018, and signed to the team's shortly thereafter. Ford was elevated to the active roster on December 12, 2018, to provide depth in the backfield amid injuries to starters and . He made his NFL debut the following Sunday, December 16, against the , where he rushed for 46 yards on 14 carries in a 14-13 Bills victory. In the next game on December 23 versus the , Ford started and added 33 rushing yards on seven carries plus two receptions for 14 yards. Over his rookie season, Ford played in two games with one start, accumulating 79 rushing yards on 21 carries and three receptions for 21 yards, serving as a key injury replacement in Buffalo's rotation. The Bills waived Ford on May 13, 2019, concluding his tenure with the team.

Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers

Following his release from the in May 2019, Keith Ford sought to continue his pursuit of an roster spot during the 2019 preseason. On July 28, 2019, the signed Ford as a to bolster their training camp depth at the position, waiving running back Aca'Cedric Ware in a corresponding move. He participated in preseason practices but did not appear in any exhibition games for the Colts. Ford's tenure with Indianapolis proved short-lived, as the team waived him on August 5, 2019, to claim off waivers from the Texans. , on August 6, 2019, the claimed Ford off waivers from the Colts, adding him to their roster while waiving offensive tackle Jason Spriggs with an injury designation. This move provided the Packers with additional depth heading into the final weeks of ; Ford appeared in the Packers' preseason games, rushing for 42 yards on 13 carries. Despite these opportunities, Ford was unable to secure a spot on the Packers' initial 53-man roster and was released by the team on August 31, 2019, just before the start of the 2019 NFL regular season. Throughout his brief stints with both the Colts and Packers, Ford did not record any statistics or make regular-season appearances, highlighting the competitive nature of preseason roster battles for undrafted free agents.

St. Louis BattleHawks

Keith Ford signed with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL in January 2020, aiming to build on his college success and prior NFL practice squad experience after being released by the Green Bay Packers. In the BattleHawks' offense, Ford provided running back depth behind lead backs like Matt Jones and Christine Michael during the league's abbreviated inaugural season. He appeared in three games across the team's five-week schedule, rushing for 52 yards on 10 carries with an average of 5.2 yards per attempt. Ford scored his two touchdowns in Weeks 1 and 4: a 16-yard run that became the franchise's first-ever score in a 15–9 win over the Dallas Renegades on February 8, and a 13-yard rush against the Seattle Dragons on February 29. The XFL suspended play on March 12, 2020, and cancelled the remainder of the season on March 20 amid the escalating , cutting short Ford's opportunity for extended exposure and additional production. This early termination limited the career momentum he had gained from his scoring contributions, as the platform was intended to showcase players for potential returns.

Arlington Renegades

Keith Ford was selected by the Arlington Renegades in the fifth round, No. 39 overall, of the 2023 XFL Draft held on November 18, 2022. This marked his return to the XFL, following a brief stint with the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020. In the 2023 season, Ford served as a backup running back behind primary options like De'Veon Smith in the Renegades' offense, appearing in two games. He rushed 15 times for 35 yards, averaging 2.3 yards per carry with a longest run of 9 yards, and scored no touchdowns; he recorded no receptions. Despite his limited statistical output, Ford earned recognition as the Renegades' highest-graded offensive player in early-season evaluations by Pro Football Focus. The Renegades finished the regular season with a 4-6 record but advanced through the playoffs, defeating the Seattle Sea Dragons in the semifinals before winning the XFL Championship Game against the D.C. Defenders by a score of 35-26 on May 13, 2023. Ford's involvement remained minimal during the postseason. Following the merger of the XFL and USFL into the United Football League (UFL), Ford did not appear on the Renegades' 2024 roster or record any professional playing activity thereafter. As of November 2025, this concludes his professional football career.

References

  1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FordKe00.htm
  2. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/keith-ford-1.html
  3. https://247sports.com/player/keith-ford-13461/
  4. https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/keith-ford/2898
  5. https://12thman.com/sports/football/roster/keith-ford/3914
  6. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/25839/keith-ford
  7. https://247sports.com/Article/Texas-AM-Keith-Ford-St-Louis-Battlehawks-XFL-143613307/
  8. https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/keith-ford/23614
  9. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/3052662/keith-ford
  10. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2018/12/17/keith-ford-nfl-debut-buffalo-bills-defeat-detroit-lions/2335605002/
  11. https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/midlands/insider/post/_/id/3493
  12. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2018/07/20/bills-rookie-chasing-the-nfl-dream
  13. https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/sooners/2013/10/17/ou-football-keith-ford-tries-to-remain-patient-while-waiting-his-turn/60873964007/
  14. https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/7950324/keith-ford-back-better-ever
  15. https://soonersports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2898
  16. https://www.maxpreps.com/tx/houston/cypress-ranch-mustangs/athletes/keith-ford/football/stats/?careerid=fsjnvl339b3h1
  17. https://www.espn.com/blog/colleges/oklahoma/post/_/id/19637/coaches-corner-rb-keith-ford
  18. https://www.espn.com/colleges/oklahoma/football/recruiting/story/_/id/7641362/Message
  19. https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/oklahoma-sooners/2012/03/04/keith-ford-top-rb-in-texas-becomes-first-commit-of-oklahoma-sooners-2013-class/
  20. https://www.footballdb.com/players/keith-ford-fordke01
  21. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11531207/oklahoma-sooners-lose-top-rusher-keith-ford-2-3-weeks
  22. https://www.koco.com/article/keith-ford-suspended-indefinitely-for-academic-and-team-rules-violations/4303332
  23. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/12587402/keith-ford-oklahoma-sooners-indefinitely-suspended-academic-team-rules-violations
  24. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/oklahoma-rb-keith-ford-suspended-for-academic-team-rules-violations/
  25. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/oklahoma-rb-keith-ford-to-transfer-after-suspension
  26. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2463442-keith-ford-to-transfer-from-oklahoma-latest-details-comments-and-reaction
  27. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/12930473/former-oklahoma-sooners-running-back-keith-ford-transferring-texas-am
  28. https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2018/5/11/17344740/buffalo-bills-announce-twelve-rookie-udfa-signings-robert-foster-levi-wallace-cam-phillips
  29. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/25839
  30. https://www.buffalobills.com/team/transactions/2018
  31. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FordKe00/gamelog/2018/
  32. https://www.buffalobills.com/team/transactions/2019
  33. https://www.colts.com/news/colts-sign-rb-keith-ford
  34. https://www.colts.com/news/colts-claim-rb-d-onta-foreman-off-waivers
  35. https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/gb/season/2019
  36. https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/stats/2019?type=pre
  37. https://www.packers.com/news/packers-keep-only-two-qbs-here-s-the-initial-53-man-roster
  38. https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/news/college-football/former-texas-am-rb-keith-ford-powers-through-defense-for-first-xfl-td/
  39. https://247sports.com/article/keith-ford-st-louis-battlehawks-xfl-touchdown-143613307/
  40. https://www.si.com/college/tamu/football/aggies-in-the-xfl-ford-finds-end-zone-in-st-louis-victory
  41. https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/where-are-they-now-looking-back-on-the-2020-members-of-the-battlehawks-offense/
  42. https://www.nfl.com/news/xfl-suspends-2020-regular-season-committed-to-21-0ap3000001106054
  43. https://nypost.com/2020/03/20/xfl-officially-cancels-season-due-to-coronavirus/
  44. https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/35053464/xfl-draft-results-2023-full-rosters-eight-teams-vic-beasley-martavis-bryant-picks
  45. https://pfnewsroom.com/column/breaking-down-the-arlington-renegades-2023-xfl-roster/
  46. https://www.pff.com/news/xfl-highest-graded-players-week-3
  47. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/xfl/2023/05/13/xfl-championship-game-arlington-renegades-defeat-dc-defenders/70215718007/
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