Illinois transfer Luke Ford must sit out the 2019 season after NCAA denies the tight end's waiver appeal

The NCAA has denied Illinois transfer Luke Ford’s waiver appeal, keeping the tight end sidelined for the 2019 season, the university announced Friday.

Ford, the top-rated recruit in Illinois in the Class of 2018, transferred from Georgia in January, citing his grandfather’s poor health and a hope to play closer to his family’s home in downstate Carterville. The NCAA in April denied Ford’s initial request to play immediately, and his family hired a lawyer and worked with Illinois to appeal.

Ford’s father, Tim, said Friday that the family was disappointed with the news but added his son will stay focused.

“Just time to get bigger, stronger, faster,” Tim Ford said.

Carterville is about 190 miles south of Champaign. The NCAA established in 2012 a distance limit of 100 miles in cases such as Ford’s.

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The NCAA decision is final with no further appeal available, the Illinois statement said. Ford will have three seasons of eligibility remaining after sitting out this fall.

The 6-foot-6, 248-pound Ford was the nation’s No. 51 prospect last year in the 247Sports.com composite rankings. He played in nine games for Georgia and had one catch for 4 yards.

sryan@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @sryantribune

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