Bryce Ford-Wheaton

Bryce Ford-Wheaton
No. 88 – New York Giants
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2000-03-09) March 9, 2000 (age 24)
Martinsburg, West Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Holly Springs (NC)
College:West Virginia (2018–2022)
Undrafted:2023
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Bryce Ford-Wheaton (born March 9, 2000) is an American professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Virginia.

Early life

Ford-Wheaton was born on March 9, 2000, in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.[1] He attended Holly Springs High School and played track and football, being one of the state's best wide receivers in the latter.[2] He also played as a defensive back and was ranked as a three-star recruit.[3] Ford-Wheaton committed to play college football at West Virginia (WVU) out of 12 FBS offers, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Garrett Ford Sr. and uncle Garrett Ford Jr.[3]

College career

As a true freshman at West Virginia in 2018, Ford-Wheaton redshirted, only appearing in their game against Baylor.[4] The following year, he appeared in 11 games, starting two, and posted 12 receptions for 201 yards and two touchdowns, one of which went for 50 yards against Kansas State.[5] In 2020, he started all nine games in the COVID-19-shortened season, posting 27 receptions, the fourth-highest total on the team, for 416 yards with three scores.[5] He became that year the first West Virginia player in history to wear the jersey number "0", and additionally was the recipient of the Iron Mountaineer Award, given to the best performers in the offseason strength and conditioning program.[5]

In 2021, Ford-Wheaton placed second on the team with 42 catches for 575 yards and three touchdowns, one of which was a historic catch against Iowa State that helped WVU defeat their conference opponent.[6][7] He was a fourth-team all-conference choice after the season and additionally was named to his school's academic honor roll bearing the name of his grandfather.[5] Ford-Wheaton in 2022 posted 62 receptions, scoring seven touchdowns, while gaining 675 yards off his catches, placing first on the team in the first two categories while second in the latter.[5] He was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection and declared for the NFL draft after the season.[8][9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+3⁄4 in
(1.92 m) 		221 lb
(100 kg) 		33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m) 		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.38 s 1.54 s 2.58 s 4.15 s 6.97 s 41.0 in
(1.04 m)		 10 ft 9 in
(3.28 m)
All values from NFL Combine[10][11]

Ford-Wheaton impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine and was projected to be drafted in the 2023 NFL draft.[5][12] He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023.[13] He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2023, after suffering a torn ACL in week 3 of the preseason game against New York Jets.[14]

On October 6, 2024, Ford-Wheaton scored his first NFL touchdown on a game-clinching 60-yard return of a blocked field goal in a 29–20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.[15]

References

  1. ^ "NFL Draft Profile: Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Wide Receiver, West Virginia Mountaineers". Sports Illustrated. November 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "WR Bryce Wheaton Signs LOI". WVSportsNow.com. December 20, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Allan (June 28, 2017). "N.C. receiver sounds thrilled to become 3rd-generation Mountaineer". West Virginia MetroNews.
  4. ^ "Bryce Ford-Wheaton NFL Draft Scouting Report". The Draft Network.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Garrett, Tommy (April 8, 2023). "Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia | NFL Draft Scouting Report". Pro Football Network.
  6. ^ Hertzel, Bob (April 12, 2022). "For Bryce Ford-Wheaton, loyalty trumps all". The Herald-Dispatch.
  7. ^ Herftzel, Bob (November 2, 2021). "How Bryce Ford-Wheaton reserved his spot in WVU football history". Times West Virginian.
  8. ^ Asti, Mike (November 30, 2022). "Frazier, Stills Make All-Big 12 First Team, Ford-Wheaton on Second Team". WV Sports Now.
  9. ^ Brocato, Joe (November 30, 2022). "Bryce Ford-Wheaton to enter NFL Draft after 5 years at WVU". West Virginia MetroNews.
  10. ^ "Bryce Ford-Wheaton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  11. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Bryce Ford-Wheaton College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  12. ^ Hertzel, Bob (March 29, 2023). "Bryce Ford-Wheaton's intangibles will shine in NFL". Times West Virginian.
  13. ^ "Giants sign 9 undrafted rookie free agents". Giants.com. May 5, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  14. ^ Salomone, Dan (August 27, 2023). "Giants make series of transactions ahead of NFL roster deadline". Giants.com.
  15. ^ Hall, Christopher (October 7, 2024). "Bryce Ford-Wheaton Records His First NFL Touchdown in a Wild Ending". SI.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.