One program’s loss is another’s gain.

In this case, it isn’t Alabama’s gain yet, but elite TE Luke Ford has the Tide on top after his recent visit, according to 247Sports.

Despite the Hogs having been a TE factory in recent history, Ford decommitted from Arkansas a little over a week ago, but Ford said he wanted to see what more programs had to offer before making his final decision.

“After much thought, I have decided that I have not done my due diligence in visiting/experiencing other schools,” Fort wrote on Twitter last week. “Many recruits have seen more than 10 schools, I have only visited 2.

“I am not saying I will not eventually be a Hog, but I need to ensure that I have made the best informed decision possible. So I am decommitting from Arkansas. Will plan to visit other schools.”

Ford, the Carterville (Ill.) product, is rated as the nation’s no. 4 tight end and the state’s no. 1 prospect, and it now seems the Crimson Tide are the favorite to land his signature following a recent visit to the program. Interestingly, new OC Brian Daboll knew the perfect pitch to give the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Ford on this visit.

“He said I reminded him of Gronk,” Ford told 247Sports. “He was saying a lot of good stuff about Gronk – how he thinks Gronk is his seventh child. He said he saw a lot of him in me. That’s the role model I look up to. To have that is pretty awesome.”

I mean, what high school player wouldn’t want to be compared to Gronk? The freakish ability; the girls; the dancing; the partying. And having coached the TEs in New England, Daboll would know Gronk best, right?

Ford said Alabama is now the leader, and it’ll be tough to say no to Nick Saban and the Tide.

“They’re showing a lot of interest in me,” Ford said. “It looks like they really, really want me. It’s going to very hard to say no to Bama. Very, very hard.”