Ford attended
Crisp County High School, where although he was an All-state selection in track and an MVP in football. He didn't receive many scholarship offers because he was considered small to play
college football. He moved on to
Marion Military Institute and transferred at the end of his freshman year to the
University of Central Florida. As a sophomore, he tallied 13 receptions for 305 receiving yards. The next year, he registered 30 receptions for 653 yards and 8
touchdowns. As a senior, including playoffs, he posted a then school record 82 receptions for 1,403 yards with 13
touchdowns. He also contributed to his team earning a 9-4 record and a trip to the national semifinals of the
NCAA Division II playoffs. Against
Northwest Missouri State University, he had 11 receptions for a school-record 208 yards and 4
touchdowns. Ford finished his college career with school records for career receptions (111), career receiving yards (2,138), career touchdown receptions (21), career reception average (19.3), single-season reception average (21.8), career 100-yard receiving games (5), single-season receiving yards (1,403), single-season receptions (68), single-game receptions (14), single-game receiving yards (208 yards) and single-game receiving touchdowns (4). In 2011, he was inducted into the
University of Central Florida Athletics Hall of Fame. ==Professional career==