Ford continues to attract college interest

To this point, Dalton Ford's recruitment hasn't included a rush of scholarship offers. Instead, the pace has been a slow trickle. And that's just fine with the Webb City (Mo.) High School tackle. Either way, he has options.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive lineman welcomed his latest offer on Monday. This time, it was Syracuse doing the honors.

"I talked to Coach DeAndre Smith," Ford said. "We had about a 20-minute conversation, and he told me that I was offered. I was hoping that offer would come in for a while. I had been talking to (recruiting director) Eric White for about a week before. He said how they loved my style of play. He kept on me and kept on me. Then he had me talk to Coach Smith. That's when they offered."

"Coach White sent me the depth chart for the O-line and filled me in on some things I didn't know."

Ford will attend Missouri's spring game on Apr. 19 and also plans to visit either Kansas State or Missouri State the following weekend. Which campus he ends up hitting, however, will depend on convenience.

"That weekend, I was invited to Missouri State and Kansas State's spring game, but I have Saturday school - that sounds crazy, but it's so we don't have to go into June - so I'm going to make it to one of those depending on times."

Ford names no favorites in the process and believes his fourth offer could be waiting for him at K-State this summer. It's an offer he plans to earn on the field. From there, he hopes the recruiting momentum he seems to be building will continue.

"I'm going to K-State's camp," Ford said. "I feel like if I show out there, I'll get an offer from them. And I feel like some of the other schools that have been contacting me, like, Oregon and Minnesota … I feel like I can get offers, but I'll have to go to camp to get them."

As a junior, Ford helped lead Webb City to a 14-1 record and a Missouri state championship.