/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45513556/Marques_Ford.0.0.jpg)
Marques Ford is a 4* Defensive End from East Bay High School near Tampa Florida. He committed to Tennessee in July. At the time, Rutgers finished in his top three, with the Vols and Duke. Ford visited Rutgers in March, and apparently enjoyed his time on the Banks. In addition to his three finalists, Ford had offers from many other schools, including Wisconsin, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Ford recently became the victim of one of the scummier sides of big time recruiting (especially in SEC country), as Tennessee pulled his offer and told him he was no longer a part of their 2015 class. According to his coach, Ford is "definitely a little bit angry" about losing his scholarship offer two weeks before signing day. Apparently, Tennessee simply felt they did not have room for Ford in the 2015 class.
According to 247Sports, Tennessee has the number 4 rated class in the country, and is currently counting 27 commits (the standard is 25).
So is Rutgers still a possibility for Ford, after finishing among his finalists? It appears so, according to his Twitter account.
Last night, he posted that due to "circumstances" he was no longer a Volunteer recruit.
Due to circumstances, I am decommiting from the University of Tennessee and opening up my recruitment...
— Marques Ford (@Marques_Ford) January 21, 2015
Displaying some frustration, he then pondered where he would land.
Well now what ....
— Marques Ford (@Marques_Ford) January 21, 2015
This morning, he may have answered his own question, or at least indicated that Rutgers was still a possibility. In his first (and as of this writing only) tweet about any school, he wrote:
— Marques Ford (@Marques_Ford) January 22, 2015
Stick with On the Banks as we follow this developing story. Ford would be a monster late addition to the 2015 class, and if Rutgers can get him on campus for an official visit in the next two weeks, could be in very good shape.