Lonnie Ford

[edit] Biography

Lonnie Ford, who has quickly become one of the premier fullback/linebackers in the Arena Football League, returns for his fourth season with the Avengers. He signed a two-year contract extension with Los Angeles on July 2, 2004, which will keep him with the club through the 2006 season. Ford is the Avengers' all-time leader in career rushing yards (332) and rushing touchdowns (18). He also set a single-game team record, rushing for three touchdowns in a game at Orlando on April 3, 2005. Ford played in all 16 regular-season games in 2005, finishing with 23 tackles, four batted down passes, 2.5 quarterback sacks and one forced fumble. He also led the team in rushing, gaining 193 yards on 50 carries and scored a total of 12 touchdowns (11 on the ground). Ford played in 15 games in 2004, finishing with 19.5 tackles, 4.5 for losses and 1.5 quarterback sacks. He also batted down five passes and blocked two kicks. On the offensive side, he led the Avengers in rushing with 30 carries for 85 yards and five touchdowns. Ford also caught four passes for 39 yards. He played in 13 games in 2003, missing three due to an ankle injury early in the year. Ford was second on the team in rushing, carrying the ball 16 times for 54 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a rookie. He also caught a five-yard pass. On defense, Ford led all fullback/linebackers with 10.5 tackles, five "quarterback hurries" (second on the team), two sacks and a forced fumble.

[edit] NFL

Ford signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers following the 2002 NFL Draft, but was released at the conclusion of the preseason.

[edit] USC

At the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, Calif.), Ford played both offense and defense. He led the Trojans with seven quarterback sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior in 2001. He also had 40 tackles, including 14 for losses of 50 yards, on his way to earning All-Pacific-10 Conference second team honors as a defensive end. In addition, Ford was selected as USC's "Defensive Lineman of the Year" and "Player of the Game" versus Notre Dame (eight tackles, three for losses, one sack and a forced fumble) in 2001. He spent his first two seasons with the Trojans (1997-98) as a tight end. Ford finished his collegiate career with 81 tackles, including 30 for losses of 150 yards, and 16 sacks. On offense, he caught three passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. For three seasons at USC (1999-2001), Ford was a teammate of current Avengers Kareem Kelly and Bernard Riley.

[edit] High School

In addition to being a football star at Morse High School (San Diego, Calif.), Ford also competed on the basketball and track & field teams. As a senior in 1996, he caught 31 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns as a tight end, and also had 19 sacks and five forced fumbles as a defensive end. On the basketball team, Ford averaged 10.5 points per game. His best track & field performances were 53-1 in the shot put and 158-0 in the discus. The San Diego Union-Tribune named Ford its "Male Athlete of the Year" in 1997.

[edit] Personal

Born in San Diego, Calif. ... earned a degree in public policy and management from USC ... emulated Lawrence Taylor when he played football as a kid ... lists Ricky Williams as the best player he has played against ... enjoys producing hip hop music and has worked in the studio with teammate Damen Wheeler.

[edit] Statistics

[edit] References

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