Cypress Ranch High School head football coach Gene Johnson pretty straightforward when it comes to describing 2013 Houston running back Keith Ford.
“He’s a super kid and a super player,” Johnson said of 5-foot-11, 200-pound Ford, who runs a 4.4. “He’s big, strong, he runs fast. He catches the ball well and he makes people miss tackles.”
Johnson noticed Ford’s potential right away.
“When he was a freshman coming in here,” said Johnson when asked when he realized Ford could be special. “He was bigger and stronger than everybody and a real physical player.”
Ford is compiling an impressive offer sheet that includes Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Utah, but is focusing on five traditional national powers – Notre Dame, Nebraska, Florida State, Alabama and Oklahoma. The Sooners are the only ones out of Ford’s top schools who have yet to offer.
Ford plans on getting out to see each of his five favorites, including Notre Dame, in the coming months. Johnson said Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, who spoke with Ford on National Signing Day, stopped in the school during a swing through Texas last year to check on Ford.
“They’ve shown an interest and reached out to Keith,” said Johnson. “They’ve come to the plate and expressed an interest in him.”
Johnson isn’t concerned with what offensive system Ford would best fit in the next level.
“I think Keith does a lot of things really well, so I think he could fit into a lot of systems,” the coach said. “He catches the ball well, he’s a big enough guy to be a good pass protector and he certainly is a great player with the ball in his hands. I think he could fit into a one-back scheme just as easily as he could standing behind a fullback.”
A foot injury caused Ford to sit out a couple of games as a junior, but he showed his toughness by returning to the field.
“He missed a couple of games in there,” said Johnson. “He played well. He came back for the 10th game and wasn’t really healed, but he played really well.”
Johnson’s superlatives for Ford extend beyond the gridiron. The coach said Ford also stands out in the classroom.
“Absolutely,” said Johnson. “He has a great personality. He works hard and builds relationships with his teachers.
“He’s an incredible kid, super, super kid. He’s as good as any kid I’ve ever coached.”
