43 days to Camp Rantoul
No. 13: Jason Ford, running back.
Why he's important: Former Belleville Althoff star is one of the players competing for the starting tailback spot. Whether he wins the job or not, Ford figures to be an important part of the Illinois offense. He was a standout during the spring, looking more like the guy who gained 172 yards and scored three touchdowns against Indiana. Ford's performance against the Hoosiers serves as a reminder to the coaches and fans that he has potential to be a star. He scored eight touchdowns during the 2008 season, which is also a positive. Like most freshmen, he struggled at times with consistency. Northwestern held him to 12 yards on 13 carries and he had more than 40 yards in just three games.
Getting personal: Two-time News-Gazette All-Stater is the career rushing leader in the St. Louis area. At Althoff, he played for legend Glenn Schott, who recently retired. Originally, made a commitment to Iowa, but later changed his mind. Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he also had offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Gained at least 1,300 yards and scored at least 16 touchdowns all four years of high school. He averaged 9 yards per carry as a senior.
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