Over the last few years, it was hard to miss No. 8. He seemed to be everywhere for Malvern Prep. It took a while, but more than just Inter-Ac League teams began noticing Jackson Ford. The rangy, 6-foot-4½, 240-pound edge rusher was not on the radar of many recruiting pundits and college scouting services his freshman and sophomore years. Perhaps they weren’t following the Friars every game. In those seasons, Ford would manage to do something disruptive on the field. Last year, he exploded for nine sacks and 22 tackles for losses in leading the Friars to their second-straight Inter-Academic League championship and third in four years.
On Friday, Ford received some payback for his arduous work and diligence on the field, when the four-star edge rusher committed to Penn State.
The Nittany Lions may have received a steal in Ford, whose best football may be ahead of him. He has been on a rapid rising arc the last few seasons and is expected to grow another inch.
Ford selected Penn State over Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan.
“I felt like the effort Penn State showed in wanting was greater than the other schools,” said Ford, who carries a 3.8 GPA and whose parents and older brother are University of Penn graduates. “My father and older brother were linebackers for Penn. They’re Wharton grads, but you can say I was raised on Penn football growing up. Penn State acted on their words and that’s why I decided on Penn State. Wisconsin and Ohio State were neck-and-neck in second. I thought about following my dad and brother (Jordan) went to Penn, but I began growing larger than my dad and brother and started gaining attention from Power Five schools.
“Penn State did a phenomenal job, and they acted on what they said.”
Ford, who said he would like to major in business and get into real estate, said the recruiting process was an enjoyable experience for him. He will be leaving Malvern early and starting at Penn State in January, a rare move for the Inter-Ac school that has seen current red-shirt freshman guard Peter Jones leave early for Notre Dame a few years ago.
“I think I took it for granted that my recruiting process started late,” Ford said. “But I think I was actually lucky that it started late, and that I caught fire toward the end. I have a good head on my shoulders and a lot of good people around, and I was dealing with a much shorter recruiting process than other guys being looked at by Power Five schools. It was more enjoyable because there was not a lot coming at me.
“Penn State projects me to be an edge rusher and maybe get up to around 260 pounds. I’m really excited about this. I’m happy for the process to be over and I can throw my focus into this season and being there for my team, and do good by my teammates.”
Ford is the third major recruit from the Philadelphia area that has committed to Nittany Lions’ coach James Franklin, joining 6-foot-3, 200-pound Coatesville four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins, and St. Joe’s Prep 6-4, 240-pound three-star defensive tackle Alex Haskell in Penn State’s 2026 class. Ford will also be joining other Philadelphia edge rushers Enai White (Imhotep Charter) and Keon Wylie (Imhotep Charter).