Pitt defensive back Paris Ford did not travel to El Paso, Texas, with the Panthers ahead of the Sun Bowl for personal reasons, according to multiple reports on Thursday. The team arrived in the Sun City on Wednesday to a warm welcome, but the former four-star recruit out of Steel Valley High School was nowhere to be found during the festivities.
Rich Walsh of KDKA was the first to report that Ford was not with the team, and he later added that he was back in Pittsburgh. Walsh also noted that Ford could possibly make the trip down to Texas at a later date, suggesting he may still participate in the bowl next Monday.