Johnathan Ford to Auburn: Tigers Land 4-Star RB Recruit

Johnathan Ford is one of the top running back prospects in the nation, and he has finally made his much-anticipated decision as to where he will be playing college football. 

The New Hope School standout out of Alabama is going to be joining the Auburn Tigers.

At 5’11”, 190 pounds, Ford has a great blend of speed and strength, with plenty of room on his frame to add some much-needed bulk. He was highly sought after by a number of programs around the nation, but wound up being wooed by Gus Malzahn and will join the Tigers' coveted 2013 recruiting class.

As per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Ford is regarded as a 4-star prospect and grades out as the No. 20-ranked running back in the class. He is listed as the 300th-best overall recruit nationwide this year and looks to be a great asset for the Tigers' collegiate football program.

Ford is a shifty back that waits for blocks to develop, hits the hole and kicks it into overdrive when hitting the second level. He can cut and redirect with the best of them, and isn’t afraid to take contact and pick up a few extra yards.

However, the youngster isn’t a power back and will need to hit the weight room in Auburn in order to break tackles at the next level. He’ll also need to learn to be more aggressive and turn up the field quicker, as faster, stronger college defenders will have a field day if he tries to move laterally.

Prior to choosing Auburn, Ford was set to be a Vanderbilt Commodore and had committed verbally back in April of 2012, before recently changing his mind.

Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia and Alabama all had a shot at earning a letter of intent from Ford, but the prospect ultimately chose to further his development with the Tigers.

This high upside prospect is certainly going to be a name to monitor, so keep an eye out for Ford making an impact at Jordan-Hare Stadium next season and beyond.