4-star EDGE Jackson Ford has commitment date locked in with finalists set

After six official visits, Malvern Prep (Penn.) four-star EDGE Jackson Ford is ready to make his commitment.

On Tuesday, Ford announced that he will decide between Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin on Friday, June 27. Each of those programs — along with Stanford and Kentucky — received OVs over the past three months, but they will be the ones in contention for one of the nation’s top uncommitted edge rushers.

Grateful for every school that believed in me and took the time to recruit me. After a lot of thought and prayer. I am down to four school and will be committing on Friday (6/27). @adamgorney @BrianDohn247@RyanSnyderOn3 @ChadSimmons_ @BrianDohn247 @CoachGueriera @MalvernPrepFB pic.twitter.com/4eDro28K6m

— Jackson Samuels Ford (@Jackson_S_Ford) June 24, 2025

Each of the Big Ten programs has made a strong impression on him. The Wolverines got the final official visit before his decision.

“They are a top school for me,” Ford told TheWolverine’s EJ Holland. “They are going to be in my final decision. It’s a school that checks all the boxes. It’s really going to come down to the little things when I compare them to other schools.”  

Battle will go down to the buzzer for Ford

They’ll have to hold off the Nittany Lions, Badgers and Buckeyes though, who have also made him feel at home on his trips there in recent weeks.

“The visit was great overall,” Ford told On3’s Chad Simmons. “The energy on campus was real, and being around the team and staff made it feel like a place I could see myself fitting in. Everything felt big-time, but still personal.”

He added of Penn State: “The first thing is what they can provide for me and my development. Another one is that the future of the program is very, very bright, with a lot of upside with the current players and also the players coming in. The community stands out too. From everyone who is currently at Penn State to the alumni who still contribute to the success of the program and the people in it.”

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Ford is the No. 216 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 26 EDGE and the No. 7 recruit in Pennsylvania this cycle.