Trace Ford Opens Up to The Oklahoman and Jacob Unruh on Bedlam Transfer

STILLWATER – You need to read this story. I know Oklahoma State fan may try to glean as much negative as they can out of it, but that is not why I’m putting the link out there. Jacob Unruh of The Oklahoman got an exclusive interview with Trace Ford.

I’ve had conversations through text with Trace Ford’s mother Desirae to assure her that the negative reaction she and her son were hearing from Oklahoma State fans was not the way that many (hopefully, most of us) feel.

Trace Ford came out of Edmond Santa Fe High School and gave Oklahoma State and Cowboys fans his best. He had 59 career tackles with 11.5 tackles-for-loss, 8.5 sacks, an interception, three fumbles forced, and one beautiful blocked punt for a touchdown this season. In the meantime, Trace had two torn ACL injuries and then at Kansas this season he fractured his patella (knee cap). 

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Ford’s touchdown moment this season.

Unbelievable! One guy endures those injuries. I get the part where he went to his locker wondering what would happen next. I saw the same thing happen with repeated injuries to four-star receiver Langston Anderson. I’m a big Langston Anderson fan too. Sometimes a player needs a change of scenery. I love Trace Ford and I wish him the best. That doesn’t mean wins over Oklahoma State, but I wish him success on the field.  

I’m not like Doug Gottlieb.

“Feel free to hand in your O jacket on the way out,” was the end of Doug’s tweet on Ford’s transfer.

Ford saw that response and much worse.

“It’s insane,” Ford said.

Ford totally earned that black letter jacket with the orange O. Now, he’ll try to earn a crimson letter jacket.

Ford is in a unique position. Never before have we seen a prominent football player start at Oklahoma State and then start at Oklahoma. Ford will have a chore coming back and making that happen. If he does then it will be quite the accomplishment. I wish him the best and I also wish that he will never look back on his experience at Oklahoma State poorly. He played well. He gave Cowboys football two ACLs and a cracked patella. 

He admits he had a hard time deciding between, in the end, USC and Oklahoma. He chose to stay close to home. He was worried about his former teammates, two very close to him, Brock Martin and Collin Oliver.

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Brock Martin has been the leader of the defensive ends and the team and he stands by hos brother Trace Ford.

“So, it meant the world that they were in my corner,” Ford told Jason Unruh. “Because that was my worst fear is what if Brock and they don’t care about me? What if they get mad and we’re not friends anymore? That was my worst fear.”

“Hey, I won’t root for him to win in Bedlam, but Trace is my brother, and I will wish for him to do well. He and I go way back, and we’ve been there for each other,” Martin told me at the bowl game. “That will never change.”