What's in store for defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. in 2025?

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a day ago

After three seasons at Old Dominion, defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. hopped into the transfer portal and received an offer from Penn State. His first season as a Nittany Lion was derailed by a preseason injury that sidelined him for all of 2023, but he bounced back last year after a lengthy recovery process. Heading into 2025, Ford will battle for a starting role after the departure of Dvon J-Thomas to the NFL.
2024 in review
Ford appeared in 11 of 16 games last season, totaling 16 tackles including 3.5 for loss. He filled in nicely as a rotational piece behind J-Thomas and Zane Durant, and this year he'll have a chance to start alongside Durant. Ford had a particularly impressive showing against UCLA, recording seven tackles in a 27-11 win.
Biggest question in 2025
Entering his sixth and final college season, Ford will battle for a bigger role. In the spring, head coach James Franklin listed Durant, Ford and Xavier Gilliam as the three players competing for two starting roles. The biggest question for Ford is whether he can take the next step in his development and earn a starting role as a veteran in the room.
2025 will be a success if…
Ford excelled at getting into the backfield last season. In order for 2025 to be a success, he'll need to continue wreaking havoc up the middle, killing opponents' drives in the backfield. If Ford can double his total from last season and reach seven tackles for loss, it'll be a great season.
2025 will be a disappointment if…
If Ford fails to earn a starting role in the fall and posts similar numbers to last season, it'll be an underwhelming campaign compared to expectations. Additionally, if he's unable to replace J-Thomas' run-stuffing ability, the team will regress in run defense and struggle against some of the Big Ten's better rushing attacks.
Realistic outlook for 2025
Whether he's a week one starter or not, Ford will likely see significant playing time throughout the season. It's possible his production returns to what it was when he was starting at Old Dominion (~35 tackles with ~5 tackles for loss). If he does beat out Gilliam, Ford could set career highs across the board.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Alonzo Ford Jr. 2025 projection