DE
Freshman
Each section identifies whether the numbers cover one season or a career, plus the school and source used.
Season totals / Penn State
Source: Penn State Athletics / Source checked October 7, 2026
Ford appeared in four early 2026 Penn State games, recovered a fumble against Marshall and made two tackles against Buffalo.
Jackson Ford is a freshman defensive end from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He played four early games for Penn State in 2026, according to his official player biography. In the opener against Marshall he recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter; against Buffalo he made two tackles. Those are his documented college defensive plays in the available summary.
Ford played his final two high-school seasons at Malvern Prep after starting at Phoenixville. As a Malvern Prep senior, he recorded 30 solo tackles, four sacks and six tackles for loss. Those prep numbers describe his recruiting background, not a Penn State season.
The Marshall recovery gives Ford a concrete early contribution despite the limited tackle total. Four appearances do not establish a starting role or the size of his defensive rotation. His role after the early-season summary should be updated from new game participation rather than inferred from his high-school production.
Sources checked October 7, 2026