Pitt safety Paris Ford will look to repeat as an All-ACC performer in 2020 and he’s made a head start on the process, as Ford was named a preseason all-conference selection on Friday.
Ford, who was named first-team All-ACC in 2019, is joined by Pitt center Jimmy Morrissey and defensive end Patrick Jones II on the preseason list.
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 Jones and Ford’s secondary-mate Damar Hamlin.
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.
Ford has also been nominated as a preseason All-American by at least three national publications and is on the watchlist for the Jim Thorpe award for the nations best defensive back
