1996 Ford Ranger with clutch issues?

It is a 96 ford ranger 2.3L 2wd with a 5 speed standard transmission. The issue is that the clutch will not disengage when depressing the pedal. My first thoughts were a bad slave cylinder or clutch master cylinder. However, I had a friend push the pedal while I watched the slave cylinder inside the bellhousing and it seems to be functioning properly. So, my question is, does that mean it is the pressure plate that is toast? That is all it could be… Right?

It doesn't matter. You still have to drop the transmission and see what is going on with the clutch. I had a similar problem and one of the springs in the clutch has come loose.

Yep thats right toast

Hi so no idea however a mechanic is you best person to ask.

I doubt the pressure plate is toast. The clutch is self adjusting and the way it adjusts is a valve in the system prevents all the fluid from returning to the master cylinder (residual pressure valve). Sometimes these fail. So the system would fail to pump up. Sometimes air gets into they system because of a leak. Once this happens the air in the line prevents the full pressure from being excreted at the slave cylinder. Then the third issue is the master cylinder that might be letting the fluid leak by once there's sufficient resistance at the clutch end to force the internal leak to leak.
If the reserve cylinder has ever gone empty- bleed the system. Once bleed the system will not work till it is "pumped" up (self adjusted).
So first bleed the system and see if that fixes the problem. If it doesn't consider installing a new master cylinder. A lot of us can do this job and the part costs less then one hour labor at most shops- so we replace the part figuring it costs less to do then to have the system looked at by a mechanic.