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Pitt Adds Prospect with ‘High Ceiling’ in Baldwin’s Dorien Ford

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The Pitt coaching staff scored the hat trick in terms of WPIAL 2021 defensive lineman last week when they received a commitment from three-star defensive tackle Dorien Ford.

The Baldwin native told Pittsburgh Sports Now that, in the end, he committed to Pitt over Penn State, West Virginia and Michigan.

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Pitt fans have been hearing about the name Dorien Ford for a couple of years, ever since Pat Narduzzi’s program was the first Power Five team to offer him.

Although we’ve heard about him, Ford is still a bit of an unknown in terms of skill set and future potential.

Dee Brown, the head of 2/10 Training and Agility, has been training Ford, Elliot Donald, Dayon Hayes and Nahki Johnson for years and has been instrumental in working with WPIAL talent such Aaron Donald, Paris Ford, Damar Hamlin, Miles Sanders, Khaleke Hudson, Tyler Boyd and Kenny Robinson. In total, Brown and his team have trained 30 NFL players.

Considering that resume and to learn more about Ford, PSN was able to talk with Brown, who believes Pitt has added a big-time talent that has the potential to play on either side of the ball.

”Dorien is so athletic,” Brown said. “As an athlete, he’s more athletic than Elliot but Elliot has been taught and trained more because he has family that’s played on the highest level. Dorien can hoop, can dunk on a vertical.

“The big thing with Dorien is that he has great feet. Dorien has such a high ceiling and he hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential yet. I think what you’re going to end up seeing us Dorien will get a lot better once he gets to Pitt and Coach Narduzzi.”

Pitt is recruiting Ford as a defensive tackle, but Brown doesn’t believe playing defense is best for him.

”To me, I know he wants to play defensive line, but I think he can probably be an offensive guard,” said Brown. “To me, he reminds me of Jason Pinkston. Remember how Pinkston came out of Baldwin as a D-lineman and you know where he ended up.

“I like him as an offensive lineman because of how light he is on his feet. I’m not sure where he’ll end up but if Dorien is receptive to doing so, I think he’ll end up being a really good one. I had a former kid, John Wetzel, reminds me of this. He went to Boston College as a d-lineman and moved to offense and has been playing [in the NFL] for nine seasons now. Guys like him and Dorien are able to do that because of their feet.”

In terms of when he can make an impact, regardless of where he ends up playing, it may take a year or two before Pitt fans see the full potential of Ford.

“I see as probably being a redshirt guy and by the time he reaches his sophomore year, you’ll be hearing about him,” Brown said.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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