#30

Dean Ford

LB · Sam Houston · R-Jr. · #30

Returning to Sam Houston for 2026
R-Jr. · Houston, Texas → Katy Morton Ranch HS
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Dean Ford

LB · Sam Houston · Fr · #30

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#2359 national
CFB
College
Sam Houston
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Sam Houston2-10HC: Phil Longo · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Sam Houston32236.02.0------
Career32236.02.0------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 12 · 2025

W 26–23

vs Delaware

1 TFL  ·  1 SACKS  ·  2 SOLO

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Sam Houston

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Linebacker · Sam Houston

Returning around him

  • 90% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: +5 net (20 in / 15 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Sam Houston · Last season: 2-10 · Talent rank #123

DNA match

Player DNA

Sideline-to-Sideline

Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.

LB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Alex Kilgore’s 2023 season.

Alex Kilgore

68%match

SMU · 2023

#2

Tah'j Butler

Georgia Tech · 2024

68%
#3

Cole Joyce

Utah State · 2024

67%
#4

Jake Gassaway

Northern Illinois · 2024

65%
#5

Percy Courtney Jr.

Florida International · 2025

65%

Matches Alex on

Weight
TFL rate

Differs from Alex on

Sack rate (lower)
Hurry rate (higher)
Height (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Tah'j Butler's freshman season at Georgia Tech (2024).

Tah'j Butler

69%match

Georgia Tech · 2024

#2

Demarcus Riddick

Auburn · 2024

66%
#3

Alex Kilgore

SMU · 2023

62%
#4

Jadyn Walker

USC · 2025

62%
#5

Elijah Melendez

Auburn · 2025

60%

Matches Tah'j on

Solo tackle rate
Tackle volume
Height

Differs from Tah'j on

Sack rate (higher)
Class year (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #11073

Final rank
#12592
Avg #12110.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #11073 this season.

Background

2024 Season Did not see any game action ... utilized redshirt to retain year of eligibility Morton Ranch High School Unanimous 2023 First Team All-District 19-6A linebacker ... 2022 Second Team All-District linebacker in District 19-6A ... named team’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 ... als...

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