Pitt safety Paris Ford has been named a second-team preseason All-American by The Sporting News.
Ford is in the running for a second straight All-American season, after being named as a third-team All-American by Phil Steele a season ago. He was also a first-team All-ACC selection.
A redshirt junior, Ford led Pitt in tackles with 97 during a breakout 2019 season. He also had a team-high three interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced three fumbles.
A Pittsburgh native and Steel Valley alum, Ford rejected advances from the NFL to return to Pitt along with secondary-mate Damar Hamlin and defensive linemen Patrick Jones II and fellow preseason All-American Jaylen Twyman.
Ford’s breakout 2019 at boundary safety came after playing sparingly as a reserve cornerback in 2018 and not at all while redshirting in 2017. In 2019, he made 11 starts in 13 games, missing two assignments due to targeting penalties.
