The day after Christmas, Pat Narduzzi and Pitt have received a huge present.
Pittsburgh Sports Now has learned that star safety Paris Ford has decided to bypass the 2020 NFL Draft and return to Pitt for his redshirt junior season.
Ford led the Panthers defense with 86 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions and was named 1st team All-ACC.
PSN has been told by a person with knowledge of the situation that Ford received a NFL Draft grade “that was better than expected and could have left” but that he wants to finish “as a Pitt legend” and finish what he started at Pitt.
“Paris has been loyal to Pitt from day one and he gets that loyalty from his family.”
This news is huge for Pat Narduzzi and Randy Bates as they’ll return a secondary with Ford, Jason Pinnock, Damarri Mathis and Erick Hallet.
Considering Pitt should once again have a strong defensive unit in 2020 and with the chance to put more on tape for NFL teams, Ford will be one of the more highly rated safeties in the country next season for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Pitt needs to get a LB transfer to play either the Mike or Money spots. If they do that they may have a better defense next year. My preference, try and get Pryts here. If u cant get him, go after Jordan Anthony. Depending on which guy they could get make Pine the Mike or Money. Then keep the star position as Bright and Campbell.
This is better news than any 5-star recruit.
I agree matt lb will be our weakest position on defense
Now we have to hope that he doesn’t ick up nicks and bumps next season.
Great news for pitt now if twyman comes back,this defense could be really special
What’s going on here mike I’m hearing this might not be true
Just wait for it
https://twitter.com/DiddyBop12_
Just wait 🤫
Not true! I’d check your sources before posting articles like this..
My guess is that Ford probably isnt happy that his decision got leaked before he could announce it himself resulting in his tweet that clouded up the situation.
It would seem that Ford wanted to announce the decision when HE was ready to make it public. PSN doesn’t divulge a player behind a Pat signal until the recruit has announced, so maybe they should’ve done the same here.
No difference from what the Post-Gazette did with Twyman last night. Announced his decision at halftime and he officially announced himself after the game. Zero difference. A potential All-American returning is bigger news compared to a commitment.
I thought the policy was about not stealing the spotlight from the recruit and not it’s newsworthiness.