Considering the historic 6-1 start from our star-studded Warriors football squad, many point fingers at the major contributors on the roster. One of the first names mentioned on this list is Dallas Ford, a key piece on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. As a ball-snagging receiver and a lockdown corner, Ford wreaks havoc every game and is feared by whoever lines up against him.
Dallas credits his two-sided nature for being such a quality athlete, as the large number of snaps that he has taken has skyrocketed his fitness levels throughout the years. While this high amount of playtime has caused a few more bruises and a lot more recovery sessions than your average football player, Ford claims that it is all worth it to rise to stardom. His ability also comes from seeing his opponents on the opposite side of him, which makes it increasingly easier for Ford to pick up skills for both positions. Seeing the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents helps him know exactly what tactics will work as a receiver and as a corner. “Playing offense in hand helps you play defense,” said Ford, “Watching how a good receiver or corner balls makes me think ‘Hey, maybe I should do that.’”
These skills are so valuable to any team, which is why the Warriors are so reliant on Ford to perform well. This same value is transferable to any level of football, as seen with Ford’s inspiration of Travis Hunter at the University of Colorado. While only some of the college interest that Ford has gotten so far has been for both sides of the field, he wishes to play both receiver and corner at the next level. He believes that it gives him the best chance to shine like how he dreams to. “There’s no question that I want to play offense and defense in college,” said Ford, “That’s most definitely the move if I want to go to the league.”
Just as Warrior supporters rave about Ford’s undeniable talent on the field, so does the coaching staff at North Atlanta. They all believe he is a force on the field as well as a leader both in and out of the locker room. Coach Jamie Aull, who has seen the progression of Ford since his freshman season, constantly boasts of how proud and impressed he is of Dallas’ progression as a player and a man. He expects the best from Dallas as a leader of the team, especially after the close loss to Marist last time out. Ford himself looks forward to the next few games, expecting to win out and put our Warriors into a historical seeding for the playoffs.
