Last year, Isaiah Ford was one of the breakout stars for the Hokies as he almost immediately took the number 1 wide receiver job. Ford, along with Cam Phillips, brought excitement for Hokie fans about the future of Virginia Tech wide receivers after struggling to find replacements for Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale.
After a very good freshman season, Ford has avoided a sophomore slump and has only gotten better.
Ford is a frontrunner to earn a spot on the 2015 All-ACC First Team despite the fact that the Hokies are 4-5 this season so far. Ford has put up some very good numbers in Virginia Tech's first nine games with 44 receptions for 615 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns, and an average of 14 yards per reception, and increase of 1.3 yards per reception from last season.
Ford may be the most polished wide receiver in the ACC behind Tyler Boyd as someone that has become a great route runner this season. Ford has the smarts to know when he can make a move to create more space, and when he just needs to put his head down and fight for as many yards as he can get.
Ford has gotten faster this season and while he isn't a speedster like Virginia Tech has had with guys like Eddie Royal and Andre Davis, but Ford has deceptive speed and his route-running makes him someone that can make the quick cuts to gain separation.
Ford has become the focal point of the Virginia Tech passing attack, and has been starting to receive more attention from opposing defenses despite the fact that the Hokies have the tremendously athletic Bucky Hodges. Even with the increased attention, Ford has still found ways to make plays and be a productive force in the Virginia Tech passing attack.
Ford needs 23 receptions over the final three to four games to break Jarrett Boykin' single-season reception record, which could be possible with Michael Brewer healthy now for the final few games. If Ford doesn't do it this year, don't be surprised if he does it sometime in the next two seasons.
Ford also has 100 career receptions already and is on pace to not only break Jarrett Boykin's career reception record, but also become the first Hokie to have 200 or even 250 career receptions. However, there is a chance that this doesn't happen as Ford definitely seems like someone who may have the chance at going to the NFL before his senior season.
Isaiah Ford has taken his game to the next level this season, and avoided the sophomore slump. With his great 2015 season, Ford seems well on his way to going down as one of the best wide receivers in Virginia Tech history.
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