Former Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn Reveals Underrated Player He Believes Deserved Far More Credit Than He Ever Received

Gus Malzahn coached some of the most explosive and memorable teams in recent Auburn football history. His tenure, filled with Iron Bowl drama, SEC title runs, and a trip to the BCS National Championship Game, saw no shortage of headline-grabbing stars—from Cam Newton and Nick Marshall to Tre Mason and Derrick Brown. But years after stepping away from the Plains, Malzahn has opened up about one particular player who, in his eyes, never quite got the acclaim he truly deserved.

During a recent interview reflecting on his time at Auburn, Malzahn didn’t hesitate when asked about the most underrated player he ever coached. “That’s easy,” he said. “It’s Rudy Ford.”

Johnathan “Rudy” Ford, a safety who played for Auburn from 2013 to 2016, was a constant presence in the secondary throughout Malzahn’s early years as head coach. While names like Carl Lawson, Montravius Adams, and Josh Holsey often earned more national attention, Ford quietly became one of the Tigers’ most dependable defenders. Malzahn said Ford’s blend of speed, toughness, intelligence, and character made him a cornerstone of the defense—even if the spotlight rarely found him.

“I always felt like Rudy Ford was the kind of player who held the whole thing together,” Malzahn said. “He was one of the fastest guys on the team, could cover ground like nobody else, and he just made plays. Big tackles, smart reads, he always showed up.”

Ford was recruited as a running back out of New Hope, Alabama, but quickly transitioned to the defensive backfield. The switch wasn’t just smooth—it was seamless. By his sophomore season, Ford was leading the team in tackles. He would go on to total over 250 tackles in his Auburn career, starting 34 consecutive games between 2014 and 2016.

“I remember early on, when we made that move to defense, there were a few eyebrows raised,” Malzahn recounted. “But our staff saw something in him. He had this fearless mentality and the closing speed to make up for mistakes—his or anybody else’s. And once he got comfortable back there, there was no turning back.”

Ford’s production speaks volumes. In 2014, he led the Tigers with 93 tackles. He followed that with another 118 combined over his junior and senior years. Yet somehow, he remained underappreciated by national pundits and never earned first-team All-SEC honors. Malzahn chalks it up to Ford’s quiet nature and team-first mentality.

“He wasn’t flashy, didn’t do a lot of talking,” Malzahn said. “He just did his job at a high level, every single day. That’s not always what makes headlines, but that’s what wins you football games.”

One of Ford’s standout performances came during the 2014 Iron Bowl against Alabama. Despite Auburn’s defense struggling to stop the Crimson Tide late, Ford registered 14 tackles and consistently made open-field stops that kept the Tigers in the game. Malzahn recalled that effort with admiration.

“People remember that game for all the fireworks—Coates, Sammie [Coates], Duke [Williams], all the passing yards—but Rudy was flying all over the field that night. That’s the kind of game where you really saw his value.”

Beyond the statistics and the film, Malzahn said what impressed him most about Ford was his leadership and maturity. During a time when Auburn’s defense was transitioning through coordinators and schemes, Ford remained a stabilizing presence.

“He was the same guy every day, no matter what. You never had to worry about his preparation, his effort, or his attitude,” Malzahn said. “That rubs off on teammates. You need guys like that in your locker room.”

After his Auburn career, Ford was selected in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He’s since carved out a solid NFL career, primarily as a special teams ace and depth safety. He’s played for multiple teams, including the Eagles, Jaguars, and Packers, earning respect from coaches and teammates for his work ethic and versatility. Malzahn said Ford’s longevity in the NFL further proves his point.

“I always tell people, there’s a reason why Rudy is still playing in the league,” Malzahn said. “You don’t hang around that long without bringing value to the team. He’s done that at every level.”

Malzahn, now the head coach at UCF, has coached dozens of athletes who’ve gone on to NFL success. Yet when pressed to name someone whose contributions were most overlooked, Ford’s name surfaced without hesitation.

“You think about all the guys I had the privilege of coaching—offensive stars, guys with big personalities, future pros—but Rudy stands out because of how crucial he was in the background,” Malzahn said. “You take him off those defenses, and we’re not the same team.”

Even Ford’s move from running back to defense exemplifies the kind of selfless mindset that Malzahn values in his players.

“Most guys coming out of high school want to carry the ball, score touchdowns,” Malzahn said. “He never made it about him. He wanted to help Auburn win, period. And when we told him we needed him on defense, he didn’t just accept it—he embraced it.”

Ford has never made waves in the media. He’s not one to lobby for accolades or dwell on past slights. But Malzahn hopes that in time, fans and observers will look back at those Auburn teams and recognize Ford’s quiet excellence.

“I’m just proud of him,” Malzahn said. “He represented what Auburn football is all about—blue collar, team-first, tough, dependable. I’ll always be grateful for what he gave our program.”

In today’s college football culture—where name, image, and likeness deals, transfer headlines, and social media followings often dominate the narrative—players like Rudy Ford can get lost in the shuffle. Yet, as Malzahn points out, they are often the heartbeat of a successful program.

“There’s a lot of talk these days about stars and rankings and hype,” Malzahn said. “But when you’re in the grind, when you’re deep in the fourth quarter of an SEC game, that’s when you realize the value of guys like Rudy. You can’t win championships without them.”

As Auburn fans continue to reflect on the Malzahn era, with all its highs and lows, perhaps it’s time for a broader reevaluation of the players who defined that time—not just the ones who made the biggest plays, but the ones who consistently did the dirty work.

“Not everyone can be the headline,” Malzahn said. “But Rudy Ford was the foundation.”

Years may pass, coaches may change, and star players will come and go. But to the man who spent nearly a decade shaping Auburn football, one thing remains clear: Rudy Ford deserves his flowers.

And if Gus Malzahn has anything to say about it, he’ll make sure that happens.