As the 2021 High School Football season approaches, one of the city’s brightest juniors is beginning to attract more and more attention from college
coaches. Calvary Day’s junior Troy Ford Jr., a linebacker in the recruiting class of 2023, received another Power-5 scholarship offer recently when Auburn threw its name in the running for his services.
Rated as a 4-star recruit (linebacker) according to multiple recruiting services, including 247Sports, Ford has scholarship offers from Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, South Carolina and now Auburn.
He tallied 69 tackles and five sacks last season as a sophomore playing on the Calvary defensive line. The 6-2, 230 pounder earned first team All-Region 3-A Private honors for a second straight year while also contributing mightily as a tight end on the offensive side.
Ford should certainly be a staple on the edge once again this season for Calvary and head coach Mark Stroud. But, as he confirmed with PSR in mid-July, he will also be playing offensively as a tight end for the Cavs (9-5; Lost in A Private semifinals in 2020) this fall.
Along with receiver JuWuan Johnson (11 catches, 147 yards in 2020), Ford should be one of the primary passing targets for highly regarded Class of 2024 sophomore quarterback Jake Merklinger (2,107 yards and 18 touchdowns).
Sophomore standout AJ Butts (87 tackles) joins Ford in this year’s Calvary linebacker unit and together, the two formed an excellent tackling combo (156 combined tackles) at the second level as underclassmen last year.
Last season, Ford was used often in the passing game early in the season, but spent most of his reps on the defensive side toward the end of the campaign. He had 11 catches -- four for touchdowns -- and 157 yards receiving. He has 125 career tackles through his first 22 prep games.
Calvary opens its 2021 season on August 20 at home against fellow Class A Private blueblood, Prince Avenue Christian. PAC knocked off Calvary 42-7 in Athens to open the 2020 season.
You can follow Ford on Twitter, @TroyFordJr2.
Follow Travis on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
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