Dontez Ford

Position:
WR
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Height:
6-2
Weight:
210
Hometown:
McKees Rocks, Pa.
High School:
Sto-Rox

2016: Played in eight games, starting two...missed five consecutive games after sustaining a collarbone injury against Penn State (Sept. 10)...had 17 receptions for 288 yards (16.9 avg.) and two touchdowns on the year...had a career-best 89 receiving yards on two catches (44.5 avg.) against Syracuse, including a 79-yard scoring reception...other TD catch came against Duke (16 yards)...semifinalist for the National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy that is presented to the nation's top Scholar-Athlete.

2015: Played in all 13 games, starting nine contests...led Pitt with an average of 19.4 yards per catch, totaling 26 receptions for 505 yards and two touchdowns...posted career highs with four catches for 78 yards (19.5 avg.) at Syracuse...also had four catches (for 66 yards) against North Carolina...had touchdown catches against Duke (five yards) and Louisville (32 yards)...selected to the ACC All-Academic Football Team.

2014: Played in all 13 games, starting three contests...moved into a starting role the final three games of the year (Syracuse, Miami and the Armed Forces Bowl vs. Houston) following an injury to senior starter Manasseh Garner...totaled three receptions for 50 yards (16.7 avg.) and a touchdown on the season...had two catches for 24 yards (12.0 avg.) and an 11-yard TD reception against Syracuse...had a 26-yard catch against Duke...blocked a punt at Virginia, leading to a short 31-yard touchdown drive for Pitt.

2013: Enrolled at Pitt in January 2013 following a transfer from Syracuse...became game eligible at the conclusion of the fall semester...played in one contest, Pitt's 30-27 win over Bowling Green in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Dec. 26).

AT SYRACUSE (2012): Did not play in any games and redshirted as a true freshman.

HIGH SCHOOL: Standout wide receiver and defensive back for Sto-Rox...Pennsylvania Football News All-Class A as a senior when he helped lead team to a 12-1 record, the Big Seven title and the WPIAL Class A championship game...Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Terrific 25"...played under Coach Ron Butschle...starred in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) East-West All-Star Game, catching five passes for 193 yards (38.6 avg.) and three touchdowns...also excelled in basketball and track and field at Sto-Rox...senior class president...National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Dontez Da'Vaughn Ford, born 2/3/94, is the son of Darryle and Nadine Ford...has two sisters and one brother...cousin Toney Clemons played wide receiver at Colorado and was a seventh-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012...helped launch the "Bring It Back PGH" campaign, which raised awareness and resources for the Sto-Rox baseball and softball programs that had previously been cut due to budgetary constraints...recipient of Pitt's 2016 Selfless Spirit Award, presented by Provost Patricia Beeson, after he observed an attempted home break-in and caused the intruder to flee...earned his bachelor's degree in finance and marketing...pursuing graduate work in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business.