By Brandon Ford.
Over the next few articles we will be detailing players we expect to have their best season as a Tiger to date. While some of these players may already be impact players, we see this season as having the potential to be a career year. A year that could potentially go down in the record books, for others it could be the year that alerts the nation of their presence in Tigertown. Overall, these are five players we expect to make a great impact for the Tigers in 2012.
TE- Brandon Ford
With Dwayne Allen choosing to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL Draft following the 2011 season Brandon Ford becomes the go to man at the tight end position entering the 2012 season. While Ford has spent the last two season playing behind Allen, Ford is no stranger to playing time, especially in key situations. In four seasons at Clemson, Ford who was recruited as a wide receiver, has transformed into a tight end who is likely to play at the next level following the 2012 season. Just recently, Ford was named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award. This award is given to the nation’s top tight end; former teammate Dwayne Allen won the award in 2011. If Ford is able to win the award, Clemson would become the first school with not only back to back winners, but multiple winners total. Only one other ACC player, Heath Miller from Virginia in 2004, has ever won the award.
Brandon Ford finished his prep career being named First-team All-State at wide receiver for the 2007 season, a season that saw him lead all of South Carolina players in receiving yards and touchdowns at Hanahan High School. His 1,702 yards receiving were also good enough to be third best in the nation in all of high school football. Ford arrived in campus in 2008, redshirting the 2008 season. He appeared in 28 snaps in the 2009 season, a season that saw the Tigers win the ACC Atlantic for the first time in school history. He had one catch on the season, a four-yard reception versus Coast Carolina.
Ford really stepped onto the scene in 2010. After being asked to move from wide receiver to tight end following the Auburn game, Ford appeared in all 13 games, starting one. He finished the season with 10 catches for 78 yards in 123 snaps. Ford had his best game of the season versus South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. He caught four passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns; becoming the first Tiger to catch two touchdown passes in a bowl game. Ford was named co-winner of the 12th Man Award for the offense following the season.
The 2011 season saw Ford improve as a tight end, becoming a better blocker while still offering a dynamic pass catching target for Tajh Boyd. Over 14 games and 222 snaps, Ford caught 14 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Ford had a key touchdown catch in the third quarter to help spark the Clemson comeback over Wake Forest to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division crown.
We fully expect Ford to pick up right where Allen left off in the 2011 season. Ford has the ability to be a matchup nightmare for defenses. His height, speed, and wide receiver background should allow Clemson to use the tight end position to place even more pressure on opposing defenses in 2012. Ford worked hard in the off season and spring to become a better blocker, adding size, while still keeping his speed and route running ability. His new mixture of size and speed along with his superior ball skills should combine for a big season for Ford. While Dwayne Allen had arguably the best season for a tight end in Clemson history in 2011, Ford could potentially eclipse all of Allen’s numbers due to his ability to play in space as a receiver. It will be very exciting to see how Chad Morris finds ways to get a dynamic playmaker like Ford the ball from the tight end position.