Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6‘2”
Weight: 195 pounds
School: Virginia Tech Hokies
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.61 seconds
Bench press: 14 reps
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 7 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.94 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.34 seconds
Isaiah Ford 2017 NFL Draft Profile
Virginia Tech’s Isaiah Ford is one of many high-quality wide receivers available in this year’s NFL Draft. Ford was very productive in college and was an important part of the Hokies’ offense over the last three seasons. With a record number of wide receivers invited to this year’s NFL combine what will make Ford stand out above the rest?
Ford came to Virginia Tech from Jacksonville, FL where he was a star athlete at Trinity Christian High School. As a true freshman in 2014, Ford started the majority of the Hokies’ games, tallying 56 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns. As a sophomore his role increased as he caught 75 balls for 1,164 and 11 touchdowns. He kept up the pace in his final season in 2016 adding 79 receptions for 1,094 yards and six touchdowns to his career total before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Ford is a good route runner with quick feet. He has good hands, but sometimes doesn’t see the ball all the way in and does not secure it firmly. He does, however, have excellent concentration and can haul in balls that bobble around in his hands or the defender’s hands. He can catch the ball with a defender on him and adjust to a poorly thrown ball. He has been successful in college running a full range a routes and prides himself on his route running ability.
Ford seems to have a lot of the intangibles that often lead to success in the NFL. He is a gritty player whose toughness and effort help him to win match-ups both in the pass game and as a blocker. He works hard and has a desire shows a strong desire to win his individual match-up. His self-confidence is high which is certainly needed to face the adversities he will see in the NFL.
Strengths
- adjusts well to poorly thrown balls;
- quick feet, excellent for cuts or defeating press coverage;
- runs good routes;
- can catch the ball in traffic;
- good concentration;
- productive in college over multiple years in a balance offense;
- good size.
Weaknesses
- needs to finish catches and secure the ball more quickly;
- not a burner;
- willing blocker, but not a particularly skilled blocker;
- hands are okay, but bobbles too many balls;
- needs to add strength.
NFL Comparison: Adam Thielen
Teams with Need a Position: Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
Projection: third or fourth round
Bottom Line
Isaiah Ford was an excellent college receiver. He does not jump off the film and grab your attention with any one aspect of his game, but he has a great combination of attributes that make him valuable. He is a scrappy player who figures out how to get the job done and has been extremely productive at the college level. Ford should find a home and be a role playing contributor somewhere in the NFL.
