Cleveland Browns select Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford at No. 156 in 2022 NFL Draft

BEREA — When Jerome Ford got to the University of Cincinnati, his position coach Darren Paige made cut-ups of running backs to emulate and one folder was devoted to the Browns’ Nick Chubb.

So Bearcats junior Ford figures he’s watched pretty much every run of Chubb’s four-year NFL career.

“We were just sitting there watching and pretty much trying to steal moves and seeing what he was doing differently to improve your game,” Ford said.

Now Ford will get to see those moves up close and be tutored by the three-time Pro Bowler as well.

The Browns boosted their backfield and found an understudy for Chubb and Kareem Hunt on Saturday, drafting UC running back Ford with the 156th overall pick, the 13th in the fifth round.

Ford, 22, steps into a crowded room that also includes restricted free agent D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton, a sixth-round pick out of UCLA in 2021.

Standing 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, Ford rushed for a career-high 1,391 yards (6.2 average) and a school record-tying 19 touchdowns (sixth nationally) last season — his first as a starter — and caught 21 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown. Helping lead the Bearcats to the College Football Playoffs, Ford had three runs of 70-plus yards last season and four for his career.

In four college seasons, the redshirt junior totaled 1,953 yards (6.1) and 30 touchdowns and pulled in 31 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Ford signed with the University of Alabama and redshirted in 2018. He started the 2019 opener, but fell behind on the depth chart as Najee Harris (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Brian Robinson Jr. leaped him. Ford arrived at UC in early 2020, opting for the school his mother had initially preferred.

Ford was heavily recruited, also receiving offers from Nebraska and Arizona, and said Alabama coach Nick Saban landed a helicopter at the 50-yard line of his Armwood High School Field.

“Coach Saban recruited me pretty good,” Ford said. “Pretty much everything about Alabama is the place that you want to be. I was the only running back taken in my class in 2018.”

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When he decided to transfer, Ford thought back to being recruited by UC. Longtime Ohio State assistant and former interim coach Luke Fickell took over the Bearcats’ program in 2017.

“My mom really liked Cincinnati through the recruiting process,” Ford said. “If she was able to pick for me, she probably would have picked Cincy. When I was getting ready to transfer, I am hitting those dudes up, and it was all love once I was able to get in contact with them.”

The Browns could be looking to the future with the selection of Ford. Hunt, the 2017 NFL rushing champion, is in the final year of his contract that carries a $1.35 million base salary and a $4.9 million roster bonus. Injuries limited him to seven games last season.

Ford could also replace Johnson, who has not signed the low tender the Browns offered. General Manager Andrew Berry left himself some wiggle room with Johnson in his press conference on April 22 and stuck to that tactic Saturday.

"I wouldn’t touch on any individual contract situation," Berry said. "We still think very highly of D’Ernest. Look, we would anticipate him being here moving forward, but we’ll see."

Johnson has averaged 5.3 yards per carry on his 137 career rushes for 721 yards, but has caught only 28 passes for 228 yards (7.9).

Ford offers more speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“I take a lot of pride in my speed. I do think it is a separator,” Ford said. “I think being fast in this league, it can change the game with you not getting tackled at the 10-yard line and you turn it into a touchdown or getting tackled at the 50-yard line if you break a long run.”

Scout Max Paulus said the Browns were excited to add “another fast playmaker” to the running back room. Paulus mentioned the "electric speed, burst and explosion" of Ford and said Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer would work with Ford on his kick return ability.

Ford said he will also concentrate on improving his route running, and Berry believes Ford can help in that regard.

"We really think Jerome has a well-rounded game," Berry said. "A bigger guy who can really run. I actually think one of the areas in his game that’s probably a little bit understated is just his ability in the passing game. He’s a guy we think can generate explosive plays for us."

Leading up to the draft, Ford said he talked to the Browns at the Senior Bowl and the combine and also had Zoom calls, but he didn’t expect them to pick him.

“It was definitely kind of a surprise because you have two great running backs already,” Ford said. “I am excited to work hard to be the third.

“Those guys are pretty much doing what they are supposed to do in the league, and they are big names in the league. I would want to one day have my name up there with theirs. I am looking forward to it.”

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/browns. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns select Bearcats running back Jerome Ford