Lonnie Ford, one of the premier fullback/linebackers in the Arena Football League and the Avengers' all-time leading rusher, will return for his seventh season with Los Angeles in 2009. During his first six seasons with the Avengers, Ford has rushed for 722 yards and 53 touchdowns, placing him nearly 500 yards and 40 scores ahead of his nearest challenger on the team’s all-time charts. In 2007, he became the first player in AFL history to rush for 168 yards or more in three consecutive seasons. Ford rumbled for 193 yards in 2005, 168 yards in 2006, and 192 yards in 2007. He also has caught 25 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Ford's career totals on defense include 85.5 tackles (including 11 for losses), 10 pass deflections, six quarterback sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and one interception. Last season, with the Avengers having to come from behind in most of their games, he was limited to just 67 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. In 2007, Ford ran for 192 yards (No. 6 in the AFL) and set a new Avenger single-season record for rushing touchdowns with 19 (the previous mark of 12 was set by Chad Dukes in 2002). In 2006, he rushed for 168 yards (No. 3 in the AFL) and 10 touchdowns on just 44 carries (his average of 3.8 yards per carry was the best in the league among players with 28 or more rushing attempts). Ford also finished the 2006 season with a career-high 26.5 tackles and his first AFL interception. In 2005, he rushed for a career-high 193 yards and scored a total of 12 touchdowns (11 on the ground). On April 3, 2005, in a game at Orlando, Ford set a single-game team record with three rushing touchdowns. Despite playing one of the most demanding positions in the AFL, Ford has only missed nine games in his first six seasons with the Avengers. On August 10, 2008, he signed a three-year contract extension that will keep the veteran in Los Angeles through the 2011 campaign.
Ford signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers following the 2002 NFL Draft, but was released at the conclusion of the preseason.
At the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California), Ford played both offense and defense. He led the Trojans with seven quarterback sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior in 2001. He also had 40 tackles, including 14 for losses of 50 yards, on his way to earning All-Pacific-10 Conference second team honors as a defensive end. In addition, Ford was selected as USC's "Defensive Lineman of the Year" and "Player of the Game" versus Notre Dame (eight tackles, three for losses, one sack and a forced fumble) in 2001. He spent his first two seasons with the Trojans (1997-98) as a tight end. Ford finished his collegiate career with 81 tackles, including 30 for losses of 150 yards, and 16 sacks. On offense, he caught three passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.
In addition to being a football star at Morse High School (San Diego, California), Ford also competed on the basketball and track & field teams. As a senior in 1996, he caught 31 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns as a tight end, and also had 19 sacks and five forced fumbles as a defensive end. On the basketball team, Ford averaged 10.5 points per game. His best track & field performances were 53-1 in the shot put and 158-0 in the discus. The San Diego Union-Tribune named Ford its "Male Athlete of the Year" in 1997.
Born in San Diego, California. Skywalk earned a degree in public policy and management from USC. He emulated Lawrence Taylor when he played football as a kid. He lists Ricky Williams as the best player he has played against. He also enjoys producing hip hop music and has worked in the studio with teammate Damen Wheeler.
