Safety Markel Ford is on the move once again ahead of his final season of high school football.
Ford, an SMU commit, will play for Lancaster (Texas) this fall, according to Greg Riddle of the Dallas Morning News. The Tigers will be his third program in the span of a year.
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After playing for Horn as a junior, Ford then made a move to Texas powerhouse DeSoto but will not suit up for the Eagles this week. The impressive defensive back recorded 45 total tackles and an interception in six games last season, per MaxPreps. As a sophomore, he tallied 56 tackles and four picks in 10 games.
He’s now set to join a Lancaster roster that also features the likes of Arkansas cornerback commit Victor Lincoln, Vanderbilt running back commit Izayah Lee, junior four-star running back Victor Scott and star sophomore safety James Foster III.
Lancaster begins the 2025 season as the No. 33 team in the Lone Star State, according to the Massey Ratings. A stout challenge awaits right off the bat as the Tigers head to North Crowley, currently the No. 4 team in the nation, this Thursday.
Ford will also have a chance to play both of his former teams this season. Lancaster hosts Horn on Sept. 19 and closes the regular season with a trip to DeSoto on Nov. 6. The Tigers are coming off a 5-8 campaign in 2024 where they finished as the No. 45 team in the state.
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Ford is the No. 742 overall prospect and No. 67 safety in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 101 player in Texas.
The 6-foot-0.5, 190-pounder committed to head coach Rhett Lashlee and SMU on April 25. That came after he backed off a pledge to Texas A&M on March 7. He’s currently one of three defensive backs committed to the Mustangs.
Scouting Markel Ford
Upon Ford’s pledge to SMU, On The Pony Express’ Tyler Browning provided his take on what the Mustangs could be getting from the in-state DB:
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“The first thing that stands out on film is his willingness to tackle. Ford is not afraid of contact and he can go low, taking out the ball carriers feet out from under them, or he can come to base and strike the ball carrier. When he is lined up as a single high safety and IDs a run or screen play, he becomes a heat-seeking missile to the ball carrier.
My favorite thing about Ford is his processing. There is one rep on his highlights where the opposing offense is on Mesquite’s 5-yard line, ready to score. Ford is lined up in man coverage on the slot. He quickly IDs his man is trying to block him so the TE can be open on a leak for a TD. He gets off the block with ease and chases the TE down, tackling him at the one-yard line on 4th down. That play alone checks the non-negotiables that SMU looks for in high school recruits: effort, production, and high IQ in situational football.”
