How Injuries Made Oklahoma's Trace Ford a 'Better Person'
NORMAN -- Oklahoma defensive end Trace Ford missed one season and parts of two others with injuries when he played for Oklahoma State between 2019 and 2022.
The injuries — a pair of torn knee ligaments and a broken kneecap —forced the fifth-year senior to rethink his approach to the game of football.
"I think I grew up a lot from having those injuries, just having to sit on the sideline and watch without having something to do on the field," Ford said Monday after practice. "I had to find a different role, so that role just transferred here, so now I’m here helping guys on the field and off the field.”
The Edmond native compared the experience to riding a mental roller coaster.
"I just had to learn to get over it," he said. "Just being here, it’s a new change of scenery, and being able to just kinda let go of the past has enabled me to get better in the game and just practice better."
The setbacks also changed Ford's outlook on life.
"Yeah, I think I grew as a person from the injuries," he said. "I feel like I grew a lot of empathy. … I grew more passionate for the sport. You never know when it’s your last day on the field and I don’t want to take anything for granted any more. So that completely changed me as a person and how I approach the game of football."
Now Ford makes a point of reaching out to those in need.
“Now I see people who are sad or just having a bad day and instead of walking past them I want to be there for them," he said. "I want to help anyone that’s having a hard time … that experience I had helped me help others."
- Sign up for your premium membership to AllSooners.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network!
- Follow AllSooners on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest OU news!
- Want even more Sooners news? Check out the SI.com OU team page here!
- Listen and subscribe to the AllSooners Podcast!
- Watch more Sooners videos and subscribe on YouTube!
