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JUCO CB could be late addition

West Virginia added a late signee in the defensive backfield a season ago in Ricky Rumph and if things go according to a plan history could be repeating itself in the class of 2013.
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Monroe J.C. (N.Y.) cornerback Jordan Ford was one of the visitors at the Gold-Blue game Saturday and the junior college prospect felt at home on campus.
"I think it's a great place to be. It's nice and it's quiet out there and what's what I prefer," he said. "It seemed like a great environment to be around. The atmosphere was incredible."
The contact between the two parties began roughly around a month ago, when Ford reached out to cornerback coach Brian Mitchell through email and the relationship has only grew from that point.
The Mountaineers were interested in the size and skills of the 6-foot-3 cornerback, while he had always been fond of the football program.
"I used to watch them a lot and I kept eying them," he said. "I was talking to one of my teammates if I was ever to get something from West Virginia it would be very exciting."
The spring game was the first time Ford had met with Mitchell in person and the assistant coach lived up to his expectations entering the visit. Observing the cornerbacks during the game, Ford was impressed with the way Mitchell coached and demanded the most out of his players.
"He said that I'm a big player and you'll see a lot of big receivers so they think I can be exactly what they need," he said.
Ford will have three years to play three at the school he selects, but the current holdup is the fact that he is in the process of completing summer school work. In the meantime, West Virginia has yet to offer him a scholarship but the Mountaineers have ascended to the top spot on the South Carolina native's list.
Ford graduated in 2011 before taking a year off and heading to the junior college route.
"They are monitoring how I do in the summer school classes and see if I pass. But right now everything is going good," he said. "I'm very confident I will get that done."
Other schools involved with Ford are Rutgers and Appalachian State and he is considering a possible visit to Piscataway this upcoming weekend to check out the Scarlet Knights. He hopes to have a decision wrapped up by the end of May and would arrive at the school he selects in the fall.
"I'm a 6-foot-3 corner so you rarely find that and I think my coverage skills are good," he said. "I have good instincts and know when you break and when not to break. And I can be physical and come up and tackle."
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