He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft.

Born in San Diego, California to an African American father and a Samoan mother,[1] Warford attended Oceanside High School during his freshman and sophomore year.

[1][2] By his sophomore year, he had earned a starting job as offensive tackle, protecting quarterback Jordan Wynn.

After Warford's father retired from the United States Navy, his family moved to Richmond, Kentucky,[1] where he attended Madison Central High School and became a two-year all-state honoree.

In his senior year, he was named a first-team all-state selection by the Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal.

[9][10] He was named the 2013 recipient of the Detroit Lions/Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Rookie of the Year Award.