Virginia Tech football: 1 day til kickoff with a look back at Isaiah Ford

Today is August 30, 2019, which means we are one day away from the Virginia Tech Hokies opening the college football season at Boston College. The Hokies will play a game tomorrow. For real. This countdown began in May as a way to not only honor former Hokie greats but to also give us football to discuss each day while we waited through the quiet days of summer before football.

Welp, we’re here.

So, this is the final edition of our countdown as we can now look ahead to the games each week. For our final edition of the countdown we look at the No. 1, a number that has been in the news this week as senior rover Reggie Floyd was chosen to wear the number this season. Head coach Justin Fuente did not allow anyone to wear the number once Isaiah Ford departed after the 2016 season.

Plenty of great Hokies have worn that number, including Keion Carpenter, Eric Green, Macho Harris and Ford. But today, we look back at Ford.

Isaiah Ford arrived at Virginia Tech back in the class of 2014. He was one of Frank Beamer’s last impact recruits. A 6’1”, 174-pound receiver from Trinity Christian in Jacksonville, Fla., Ford was a two-sport star in high school and actually had several basketball offers, too. Early in his career, Ford was expected to play some minutes on the basketball team, however, decided to focus solely on football.

As a freshman in 2015, Ford played in all 13 games, making 11 starts and led the Hokies in receiving with 56 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns. He was an all-freshman pick. He continued his outstanding play as a sophomore, again leading the Hokies in receiving with 75 catches for 1,164 yards and 11 touchdowns. Ford broke numerous records that season in Fuente’s new offense. He was rewarded with a spot on the All-ACC first team.

Ford was set for a huge junior season. He played in all 14 games for the Hokies, again leading the team with 79 receptions for 1,094 yards and seven touchdowns. He became the first player in school history with two 1,000-yard seasons. For some unknown reason, Ford didn’t make the All-ACC first team, instead making the second team.

After the season, Ford decided to skip his final season and enter the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a seventh-round pick of the Miami Dolphins where he remains today. Unfortunately, he has battled some injuries but looks poised for a bigger role this fall. Since leaving the Hokies he’s returned numerous times to support the Hokies.

When Ford left Virginia Tech, he dominated the record books at receiver. He was the career leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, while also holding the single-season marks in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. One year later, his classmate, Cam Phillips passed him in career receptions and yards. But Ford did it in three years. Even more impressive. Ford still holds the Virginia Tech record for career touchdowns, single-season marks for receptions and touchdowns. He is only 26 receptions and 60 yards behind Phillips atop the record books.

Isaiah Ford is arguably the top receiver in Virginia Tech history to this point. Andre Davis would be No. 1 for me, but Ford is right there in the top group with Antonio Freeman as well. Expect Ford to become a future member of the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.

Well, folks, we will be discussing the Hokies’ first game at this time tomorrow night.

GO HOKIES!!