How OU football's Trace Ford put his injury woes and 'mental roller coaster' behind him
NORMAN — Trace Ford’s injury history is well documented.
A torn left ACL. A torn right ACL. A fractured kneecap.
The series of injuries caused the Edmond native to miss 15 games throughout his four seasons at Oklahoma State. But it wasn’t the physical hurdles that gave him the most trouble.
“It’s a mental roller coaster, not a physical thing,” Ford said on Aug. 14. “I had to learn to get over it.”
Now a redshirt senior defensive end at OU, Ford is focused on his future rather than his past.
The Bedlam transfer is expected to make an immediate impact with the Sooners, who'll host Arkansas State at 11 a.m. Saturday. OU released its Week 1 depth chart on Tuesday, and Ford is listed as the top reserve in a defensive ends room that features returning veterans Reggie Grimes and Marcus Stripling.
More: How Sooners QB Dillon Gabriel is 'on the money' entering second year with OU football
"He found opportunity," head coach Brent Venables said of Ford on Tuesday. "He's responded well, and he's created value and opportunity for himself. ... Hard work is what it's all about. That's what he has brought."
Ford's spot on the depth chart was up in the air when he arrived in Norman this past spring.
The OSU transfer had to battle for reps at defensive end, a position that has has numerous newcomers.
In addition to Ford, OU also brought in Wake Forest transfer Rondell Bothroyd. The redshirt senior recorded 136 tackles (30.5 for loss) and 16.5 sacks in five seasons with the Demon Deacons.
The Sooners also added freshman Adepoju Adebawore. He was rated by 247Sports as a five-star prospect and the No. 9 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class.
But Ford didn't let the increased level of competition prevent him from carving out a role. And he didn't let his previous injuries hold him back either.
More: Justin Harrington once left OU football. He's grateful to be Sooners' starting cheetah.
"Ever since I’ve gotten back here to fall camp, I haven’t looked back," Ford said. "I’ve been myself. It’s been fun to not have that on my shoulder."
Ford can be a difference maker when he's able to stay on the field.
He earned All-Big 12 honorable mentions in 2019 and 2020 before missing all of the 2021 campaign due to a torn ACL. He also boasts 59 career tackles (11.5 for loss) and 8.5 sacks in 32 career games.
Ford will have to make plays if he wants to maintain his role in a competitive defensive ends room. But after being held back by injuries during his time at OSU, he's just happy to have a clean slate at OU.
"You never know when it’s your last day on the field," Ford said. "I don’t want to take anything for granted anymore. (Injuries) completely changed me as a person and how I approach the game of football."
More: Why OU football's Billy Bowman was 'fighting' to return to special teams after injury
OU football quick hits
Junior wide receiver Jalil Farooq on if he's nervous about having a lead role: “Not nerve-wracking. It’s somewhere I always wanted to be. So I can’t wait to showcase it.”
Sophomore linebacker Jaren Kanak on being named a Week 1 starter: "Obviously, that’s something that everybody wants. ... I’m looking forward to leading those guys and just pulling everybody to a higher standard. ... We’ve got a lot of guys that have played a lot of good football, and obviously I’m honored to be named the starter."
Stoops on sophomore wide receiver Gavin Freeman's new nickname: “G-Freaky just comes from, we'll just be joking around the locker room and he just said some funny stuff. So we just say he’s a freak. But it even kind of grew into, he makes freakish plays out here, so he’s just a freak of nature, really."
Bothroyd on his goals for this season: “For me personally, I want to win. I guess that’s a team goal, but personally just win and produce as much as I can to help win. ... Just have fun, play hard and enjoy everyone around me because it’s my last year in college football."
Redshirt senior cornerback Woodi Washington on if this year's defense is different from previous ones: "Definitely. I'm a lot more confident not only with myself but the entire defense as a whole. Whether it's d-line, linebackers or safeties, I think we've got a very confident group."
More: Will OU football bounce back in 2023? Here are our game-by-game predictions for Sooners
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Trace Ford has put injury woes behind him with Sooners
