100 Days to Football Time in Oklahoma 2024: #30 Trace Ford By: Ryan Lewis Posted on: July 31, 2024

Player Profile

Position: Defensive End

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 246

Class: Redshirt Fifth

Seasons at OU: 1

Hometown: Edmond, Okla.

Previous School: Oklahoma State University

The Path to Norman

Trace Ford played high school football in Edmond, Oklahoma, less than an hour north of Norman. Part of the 2019 recruiting class, the Sooners and Ford circled each other for some time, with Ford visiting Norman more than once but never receiving an offer. After that, he signed with Oklahoma State. Ford spent several years there; following a promising freshman season, he was forced to battle through injuries. After the 2022 season, Ford transferred to OU.

Career so Far

Trace Ford had a big freshman season; he played in all 13 games, starting in six, and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

2020 was another solid season; Ford started in nine games and played in 10. He once again earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

In 2021, the injury bug started to hit more strongly. Ford missed the entire season (and redshirted) in 2021. In 2022, he again battled through injuries, although he was able to play in nine games.

2023 was Ford’s first season with the Sooners. He played in every game of the season, where he found some success in getting into the backfield.

Stats

Years: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | Career

Games Played: 13 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 45

Tackles: 18 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 29 | 77

TFL: 3.5 | 3 | 0 | 4.5 | 4 | 15

Sacks: 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.5 | 3 | 8.5

Interceptions: 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2

FF: 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3

PBU: 3 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 18

Stats via Soonersports.com

This Season

Ford has enjoyed a healthy offseason, a rare occurence in his college career. He will once again compete at defensive end, where his pass-rushing abilities can be put to good use. Ethan Downs, R Mason Thomas, Caiden Woullard, and P.J. Adebawore are set to be big factors at end, so Ford will have to continue working for his snaps in his final season in college.