It did not take long for Johnathan "Rudy" Ford to make an impact at his new position.
And that impact, according to defensive tackle Gabe Wright, was one loud "boom."
The rising sophomore delivered a big hit on a screen pass to an unidentified receiver during Auburn's first spring scrimmage on Saturday, March 29.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn did not share a lot of specific information on the scrimmage during his Saturday press conference, but he was quick to point out Ford's performance.
"Rudy Ford is a guy that had a really good hit playing defense," Malzahn said. "He's a new guy playing defense, and that was probably the thing that stood out to me the most."
Ford, a rising sophomore from New Hope, flipped his commitment as a four-star running back prospect from Vanderbilt to Auburn shortly before National Signing Day in 2013.
The 5-foot-11 running back stood out in fall camp last season for his work ethic and team-first attitude -- a trait that was on full display just before the Tigers' season opener against Washington State.
Ford volunteered to move from running back to cornerback in order to help a thin unit on Auburn's defense.
"[Ford] came to us and said, 'Coach, I want to help the team win, [and] I want to win now,'" offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said last August. "And right now, that's what's best for our football team."
Ford's wishes came true, as the Tigers completed a remarkable turnaround season that finished with a SEC Championship and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game. He appeared in all 14 games of Auburn's 2013 season, playing both defense and special teams.
Ford returned to offense during Auburn's Homecoming rout of Western Carolina with a 38-yard touchdown run against the FCS-level Catamounts.
"It's been a blessing, really, to play two positions in college football--especially in the SEC," Ford said. "They say many people don't get that chance, period."
Many fans expected Ford to make the full-time switch back to offense this spring with the departure of Heisman finalist Tre Mason, but Malzahn and his staff had other plans. Ford will stay in the secondary for the 2014 season, but he will move to safety, a position that is missing former playmakers Ryan Smith and Ryan White.
Even though Ford is having to learn another position again during camp, he has made an impression on Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.
"Other than making some mistakes just from lack of repetition, he's made some really good plays for us," Johnson said.
With the Tigers looking to reload their secondary from 2013's run to Pasadena, Ford has used the first two weeks of Auburn's spring practice to make an impact on Auburn's depth chart -- and on his fellow teammates.
"A lot of big hits," said defensive tackle Angelo Blackson. "I forget who was coming across on the screen, but Rudy laid the lick on him. That was good to see."
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