"I already knew where I was going, I figured there was no reason to drag it out," Ford told Rivals on Thursday. "The reason I chose (Georgia) is because I feel it has the best academically and athletically for me. I fit in really well with the coach there, the other players there and the tight ends there.

"I think their usage of tight ends is really beneficial with two and three on the field. Plus, the national championship, they have a chance to do that. When I get to college I have goals of a national championship and playing in the NFL."

Ford, who decommitted from Arkansas in June, ranks as the No. 2 tight end, the No. 1 player from the state of Illinois and the No. 49 overall prospect for the 2018 national recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite.

The four-star prospect announced his top-5 schools on Sunday and chose the Bulldogs over Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn and Illinois after earning 32 scholarship offers.

Prior to Ford's announcement, Georgia already had the No. 1 overall class for the 2018 national recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Team Composite and now has 19 total signees and five hard commitments.