DEARBORN – The Fordson football and other athletic programs have a long tradition of putting kids in college, and offensive lineman Ahmad Leila is the next in line.

Leila will receive a partial scholarship to Wayne State University in Detroit where he will study pre-pharmacy and compete for playing time for the Warriors, who reached the Division-II national championship game last season. 

“I followed their run to the championship and it was very exciting,” Leila said. “They were the underdog in every single game.” 

Leila said he planned to attend Wayne State for academics but jumped at the chance to play in college. He also knows current players Hassan Amen and Nores Fradi, both from Dearborn, and called the visit to Wayne State “amazing.” 

He said that the interest in his commitment has been mutual after the 2011 visit to speak with coaches, and the 6-foot-2, 275-pound lineman said he’s eager to play regardless of what specific position the team needs him at. He said he hoped to carry on the long-running Fordson student athlete tradition.

“Of course the Fordson tradition is amazing, they have such unbelievable athletes who go all over the place so to be the next guy on that list is definitely something to live up to,” he said.