UGA fans and several Bulldogs players earned praise from Illinois fans for supporting the NCAA appeal of Luke Ford, despite the fact that he left Georgia’s team.

Now Ford has added another notable member to his network of support — after having his appeal to be eligible this season recently denied by the NCAA.

The former 4-star tight end has secured the services of attorney Thomas Mars, a source close to the situation told DawgNation. Mars is famous for winning immediate eligibility for high-profiled transfers such as Justin Fields (UGA to Ohio State) and Shea Patterson (Ole Miss to Michigan, last year), among others.

Ford left Georgia’s team after one season, transferring in January from the Bulldogs to Illinois in order to play closer to his ailing grandfather. Ford is from Carterville, Ill.

DawgNation has learned that the key components of the NCAA appeal will include the fact that his two position coaches at tight end at UGA (Shane Beamer, then Jim Chaney) both left the Bulldogs. There’s also no other FBS programs within 100 miles of his hometown.