The Green Bay Packers have signed wide receiver Carl Ford, a seventh-round choice in the 2003 NFL draft, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Wednesday.
Ford, 6-0 and 179 pounds, was the third of four selections in the seventh round of this year's draft, a compensatory pick. A four-year letterman at the University of Toledo, he's the fourth player from Toledo to be drafted by the Packers, the first since 1958.
The 22-year-old Ford played in 47 career games with Toledo and finished his collegiate career with 154 receptions for 2,039 yards and 17 touchdowns. As a returner, he recorded 24 kickoff returns for 455 yards.
The Monroe, Mich., native led the team with 79 receptions (second-most in school history) as well as a team-record 1,052 yards receiving and 9 touchdown catches his senior year. After starting all 14 games in his final season, which included a career-high 124 yards receiving vs. Northern Illinois, he was a second-team All-Mid-American Conference selection.
Earlier a three-year letterman at Monroe (Mich.) High School, Ford was named to the Detroit Free Press' 'Fab 50' list and the Detroit News' 'Blue Chip' list after a senior season which saw him score 17 total touchdowns, including 3 on kick returns.
Ford is the fifth of the Packers' nine 2003 draft selections to be signed. He joins defensive tackle James Lee of Oregon State, a fifth-round selection; 6-9 offensive tackle Brennan Curtin of Notre Dame, a sixth-round choice; wide receiver/kick returner DeAndrew Rubin of South Florida, the Packers' second pick in the seventh round; and cornerback Chris Johnson of Louisville, Green Bay's first pick in the seventh round.
