With QB situation uncertain, Stanford likely to lean on freshman RB Ford vs. Virginia Tech

Micah Ford was watching the Netflix series “Receiver” when he heard tight end George Kittle tell his 49ers teammates before last season’s NFC Championship Game: “Inhale confidence, Exhale fear.”

Ford took Kittle’s pregame message to heart when he was named the starting running back for Stanford as a true freshman this season.

“Just being in that stage as a freshman, not a lot of people get the chance to do that,” Ford said. “So I don’t want to take it for granted. I play every snap...