Poona Ford

Poona Ford
refer to caption
Ford with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020
No. 95 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1995-11-19) November 19, 1995 (age 28)
Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school:Hilton Head
(Hilton Head, South Carolina)
College:Texas (2014–2017)
Undrafted:2018
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:190
Sacks:8.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kaylon Nakia "Poona" Ford Jr. (born November 19, 1995) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas, where he was the 2017 Big 12 Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year,[1] and signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

Early life

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Ford attended Hilton Head Island High School. He initially committed to the University of Louisville but changed his commitment when coach Charlie Strong left Louisville to take the head coaching job at the University of Texas.[2]

College career

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Ford attended the University of Texas and played for the Longhorns from 2014 to 2017.[3] In his freshman year Ford played in 7 games and had 9 total tackles and 1 tackle for loss.[4] He improved in his sophomore year tallying a total of 39 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 10 games.[5] In his junior year he had a college career high 54 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss through 12 games.[6] In his senior year, Ford had his best year as he racked up a total of 31 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, earning him the Big 12 Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year award.[7][8]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+5⁄8 in
(1.82 m) 		306 lb
(139 kg) 		32+3⁄4 in
(0.83 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 5.13 s 1.81 s 3.00 s 4.75 s 7.76 s 29.5 in
(0.75 m)		 9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		 24 reps
All values from Pro Day[9]

Seattle Seahawks

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Ford signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL draft.[10][11] He made the Seahawks' 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie.[12] He made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.[13] He made his first NFL start in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers.[14] He appeared in 11 games in his rookie season. He finished with 21 total tackles (13 solo, 8 combined).[13]

In the 2019 season, Ford appeared in 15 games and started 14. He finished with .5 sacks, 32 total tackles, one pass defensed, and one fumble recovery.[15] In the 2020 season, Ford started in all 16 games. He finished with two sacks, 40 total tackles, and one forced fumble.[16]

The Seahawks placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Ford on March 17, 2021.[17] The Seahawks later signed him to a two-year contract extension.[18] In the 2021 season, Ford started in all 17 games. He finished with two sacks, 53 total tackles, and one pass defensed.[19] In the 2022 season, Ford started in all 17 games. He finished with three sacks, 35 total tackles, and two passes defensed.[20]

Buffalo Bills

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On May 2, 2023, Ford signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.[21]

Los Angeles Chargers

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On March 16, 2024, Ford signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Former HHIHS Star Poona Ford Stands Tall In All-Star Game". LowcoSports. January 22, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  2. ^ Fastenau, Stephen; McCombs, Mike (February 5, 2014). "Hilton Head High's Poona Ford sticks by Strong, chooses Texas". The Island Packet. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "Poona Ford College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Poona Ford 2014 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  5. ^ "Poona Ford 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  6. ^ "Poona Ford 2016 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "Poona Ford 2017 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Cooke, Hunter (November 29, 2017). "Poona Ford wins Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Award". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "2018 Draft Scout Poona Ford, Texas NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  10. ^ Vowell, Lee (August 22, 2018). "Seahawks may have found long-term anchor in Poona Ford". 12th Man Rising. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  11. ^ Gold, Sam (August 24, 2018). "Seahawks Film Room: Poona Ford proving to be a hidden gem". The Athletic. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "Lowco Lowdown, Sept. 3". LowcoSports. September 3, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Poona Ford 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  14. ^ Bezjak, Lou (December 2, 2018). "Former Hilton Head Island standout makes first NFL start". Island Packet. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  15. ^ "Poona Ford 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Poona Ford 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Williams, Charean (March 17, 2021). "Darious Williams only one of 26 RFAs in NFL to receive first-round tender". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  18. ^ Boyle, John (March 17, 2021). "Seahawks Sign DT Poona Ford To Multi-Year Contract". Seahawks.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "Poona Ford 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Poona Ford 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  21. ^ Brown, Chris (May 2, 2023). "Bills sign veteran DT Poona Ford". BuffaloBills.com.
  22. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Poona Ford". Chargers.com. March 16, 2024.
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