100 Days to Football Time in Oklahoma: #30 Trace Ford By: Ryan Lewis Posted on: August 3, 2023

Player Profile

Position: Defensive Lineman

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 257

Class: Redshirt Senior

Seasons at OU: 0

Hometown: Edmond, OK

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 battle through injuries, although he was able to play in nine games.

Stats

Years: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | Career

Games Played: 9 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 32

Tackles: 8 | 0 | 22 | 29 | 59

TFL: 3 | 0 | 4.5 | 4 | 11.5

Sacks: 1 | 0 | 4.5 | 3 | 8.5

INT: 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1

FF: 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3

Stats via Soonersports.com

This Season

Ford, who has two seasons of eligiblity remaining, comes to OU as part of an impressive defensive line transfer class. Rondell Bothroyd, D.J. Terry, Davon Sears, and Ford all joined the Sooners over the offseason and are all likely in the two to three deep on the defensive line. At defensive end, Bothroyd is almost certain to start, with guys like Ethan Downs and R Mason Thomas likely to man the opposite side. Ford, along with Reggie Grimes and freshman P.J. Adebawore, will play large roles at end as well. If he can remain healthy, the in-state transfer Trace Ford looks ready to have an instant impact for OU in his first season on campus.