The best is yet to come for Latrell Fordham

A new location is on the horizon, but the same speedy, crisp route running Latrell Fordham is headed toward a stadium near you. 

The former Youngstown State University Wide Receiver has entered the transfer portal and will decide on his next step soon. The school he picks will get an ultra-competitive, skilled, family-first man on its roster. 

Fordham spent the last three seasons sporting the White and Red in Youngstown, Ohio. He racked up 926 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in his YSU stint. Fordham made the most of his opportunities, as the Penguins were a run-first program last season. That didn't stop Fordham from making an impact. 

Fordham's blazing speed was on full display as he returned a 98-yard kickoff for a touchdown. This brilliant display of athleticism broke the YSU record for the longest kick return in program history. All you see is Fordham skating by white jerseys, which is nothing new to Fordham.

Big plays are just part of the routine when you are a top 100 high school player in the nation like Fordham. He was the second-ranked receiver in Michigan after leading the Davison Cardinals to the state championship. He made the Detroit News Football Dream Team with a whopping 19.5 yards per reception and 12 touchdowns. He chose to take his talents to St. Thomas More prep school in Connecticut for one more year of development and exposure to more elite talents. Fordham went head-to-head with Marques Buford daily in practice at St. Thomas More. That's part of the reason an elite talent like Fordham chose the prep route. Iron sharpens iron, and he benefited from competing with other elite talents. 

While Fordham dominated every season of his standout high school football career, he also has a history of exuding excellence on the hardwood. Fordham received offers from Georgia Tech, Southern Utah, and Southern Mississippi as a freshman attending Goodrich. The skills Fordham picked up from basketball, like body control, core strength, and his fiery competitive spirit, all translated to the gridiron. He dropped hoops to fully focus on football after his sophomore year of high school. While he was a man amongst boys in both sports in high school, that same Fordham is still there. This isn't a guy living off the glory days behind him. With the right opportunity and usage, his best football days are ahead of him. 

Whoever Fordham chooses to commit to is getting a 6-foot-3, 195-pound speedster with crisp routes. Fordham understands that natural abilities, like God-given speed, only get you so far. He separates himself with routes that would make Davante Adams grin. Fordham has jump ball ability at that size and a massive catch radius when quarterbacks throw it his way. Skills pay the bills, and Fordham isn't lacking in that department. 

Of course, as a competitor, Fordham wants to prove he can dominate once again, but what means more to him is doing it for his family. Fordham comes from an athletic family in Flint, Michigan. His parents spent years taking him and his brothers to practices and training sessions, dedicating their lives to their children. That's a big deal to Fordham, as he wants to return the favor and retire his hardworking parents.

Not only is the family that raised him of the upmost importance, but the family he's created is his purpose. Fordham has two little ones (Cameron, 1 year old, and Stone, 2 years old), and they keep him going. Fordham has great mentors in his life, like 2x NBA champion Lindsey Hunter and Super Bowl champion Mark Ingram Sr., in his corner to keep him grounded, but it's nothing like seeing your own babies' faces. That feeling alone reminds Fordham why he goes so hard.

Fordham prioritizes Keeping God first. He isn't a big rah-rah guy who writes scriptures on all his cleats and wrist tape, but his "Keep God First" mantra sticks with him throughout his days and time on the field. He got baptized in 2024, and connecting with God on a deeper level has helped him grow as a human, not just a football player. 

God will be with Fordham as he transitions into this new journey. He's still going to be a dazzling WR and return man (if that's in the cards) wherever he chooses to go. Fordham has another year of eligibility and two more online classes before he graduates. He'll make a decision by June, and wherever he lands will be must-see TV.