The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2026 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY CHAD SIMMONS M ichigan's late push for Frederrick Ford paid off in a big way. The four-star linebacker prospect from Greenwood (Miss.) committed to the Wolverines over finalists Ten- nessee and Mississippi State after Kyle Whittingham's program made a late surge. Ranked No. 209 overall and No. 18 among linebakcrs in the Rivals Indus- try Ranking, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound defender held more than 20 offers, and Michigan was the last visit and then got the commitment. "The offer came on June 4," Ford told Rivals. "I've been blessed to be recruited by some great programs and meet some really great coaches, but Michigan had things outside of football that really sealed the deal for me." The official visit to Michigan was key in this decision. "The OV was nice, but I felt the vibe the very first day I met Coach Jay [Hill] and Coach Alex [Whittingham]," he said. "My mom and I looked at each other and said, 'I think this is it.'" One moment from the weekend still stands out. "The biggest highlight was the car- nival when Coach Whit pulled up on a Harley. The atmosphere was great, too. The weather was nice." Ultimately, three major factors drove his decision. "The defensive coaching staff is proven and knowledgeable, so that was big," he said. "I feel like I'm definitely going to make it to the next level." "I like how Ann Arbor is completely different from Greenwood, too. I'm excited about experiencing something different. "They have a program called M Power directed by John Rotche, and it helps prepare players for life outside of foot- ball and offers valuable connections that I feel will help during and after football. That was another thing that helped Michigan." Ford's family feels good about the de- cision. The linebacker recalled the moment Michigan's offer arrived and the impact it had on his family. "When I got the call from Michigan, that was the first time my dad lit up af- ter an offer," Ford said. "I didn't know much about the program, but for my dad to react that way, I knew there had to be something special." Before Michigan entered the race, Tennessee and Mississippi State had established themselves as the schools to beat. "It was between those two before Michigan put its hat in the ring," Ford said. "[The defensive coaching staff] at Tennessee had a plan for me that was very tempting, and [the coaches] at Mississippi State were great, too. My brother attends Mississippi State, and I thought it might be better for my fam- ily if I went there, but I had to do what I thought was best for me." In the end, Michigan's combination of elite coaching, long-term development and a vision beyond football proved im- possible to pass up. ❑ Late Push For Frederrick Ford Pays Off With Commitment PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Ford is a tall, long, athletic linebacker prospect. He plays safety for his high school squad and flies around the field. The Michigan commit looks super comfortable in space and coverage, and, on his junior season highlights, he's also patient and doesn't over-pursue. Ford avoids blocks well and is a physical tackler who can lay down a big hit. It sounds like Michigan is high on his physicality and violence at under 200 pounds. Once he bulks up, he will be a wrecking ball of a linebacker. He clocked a 4.6 40-yard dash earlier this year and a 4.4 shuttle time that would have ranked in the middle of the pack amongst linebackers at the NFL Combine this year. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: He will need to add plenty of weight at the college level, like most high school linebacker prospects, but he has the instincts and athleticism to compete for a role early in a young Michigan linebacker room. Ford will need time to adjust to his new position and hit the weights. With that said, he's a clear four-star prospect in our eyes. PLAYER COMPARISON: Miami linebacker Kamal Bonner — Both Bonner and Ford were high school safeties who, despite needing to add weight, could lay down a huge hit at the prep level. Bonner contributed early in his career at NC State before transferring to Miami. — Ethan McDowell Ford and his family came away impressed after meeting with U-M coaches Jay Hill and Alex Whittingham. "My mom and I looked at each other and said, 'I think this is it,'" Ford recalled. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS