In May 2023, defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. transferred from Old Dominion to Penn State football. A couple months later, Ford suffered an undisclosed season-ending injury that sidelined him until this year’s fall camp.

In 2024, Ford has received the green light to suit up in the blue and white again and has quickly shown what he brings to the table.

“He’s been a really pleasant surprise. He’s really good against the run,” James Franklin said after practice Tuesday. “He’s got a natural understanding of how to play the run keys, pad level, and hand placement.”

Although this is his first action in about a year, Franklin said he expects Ford to further develop his ability to rush the passer during camp.

“I think as he continues to gain confidence and get his body back from that amount of time off, with his injury, I think he’ll get better and better in the pass game,” Franklin said.

The former three-star recruit had a unique start to his collegiate career. Ford enrolled at Old Dominion as part of the recruiting class of 2020, however, the Monarchs canceled their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making Ford a true freshman in 2021.

In his two seasons with the Monarchs, he recorded 70 tackles, four sacks, and 7.5 tackles for loss in 25 games.

Ford has two more years of eligibility with the Nittany Lions after using his medical redshirt last season.

“We were excited about, what he would have been able to do last year, but we [didn’t have] a chance to see him a whole lot,” Franklin said. “So, he’s been a nice pleasant surprise for the depth inside.”

The Richmond, Virginia, native came into a defensive tackle room with lots of depth in 2023. Since then, Jordan van den Berg and Davon Townley both transferred, making Ford one of the more experienced players at the position.

Although Franklin said Ford is still adjusting to being back at full strength, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a shot at quality reps.

“I think as he continues to get back into football shape, I think he could be competing for a starting job,” Franklin said.