Top Texas high school football prospect likely to miss rest of senior season with injury

One of the top defenders in Texas high school football might have played his last down at the prep level due to injury.
Arlington Martin four-star EDGE Jesse Ford, a TCU commit, was injured in the team’s 48-21 loss to Lake Travis on Friday night. Two days after the season opener, Ford tweeted that he is likely to miss the rest of the Warriors’ season.
“Due to (a) hamstring tear I will most likely be out for the season,” he posted. “God works in all kinds of ways. And I know he has a different plan for me than what I expected. God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers and I will continue to be a leader of this team.”
The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder was one of the state’s premier players as a junior and looked poised for another huge campaign in 2025. Last year, he finished with 49 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks in only 10 games for Martin, which finished the season 3-7.
That came after a breakout sophomore season where Ford notched 40 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, seven sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
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Ford will continue his career in the state of Texas
Back in January, he committed to the in-state Horned Frogs over Texas, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and dozens of other offers.
“The coaches treat me so well. And this is somewhere I would want to be for the rest of my college career,” Ford told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. “We are building something no one’s ever going to expect!
… I just wanted to stay home and put on for my city.”
Ford is the No. 192 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the No. 24 EDGE and No. 27 player in Texas.