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Oklahoma football: Sooners steal a transfer from Lincoln Riley and USC

By Chip Rouse

Sep 17, 2022; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State's Trace Ford (94) points to fans after scoring a touchdown against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan J. Fish-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State's Trace Ford (94) points to fans after scoring a touchdown against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan J. Fish-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma State DE transfer Trace Ford was considering Lincoln Riley and USC before Oklahoma football swarmed in and convinced him to end his collegiate career on the other side of Bedlam with the Sooners.

Ford, an outstanding edge rusher, spent the last several seasons attacking Big 12 quarterbacks as an Oklahoma State Cowboy, but he will be doing so in 2023 as part of what is expected to be a revamped and much stingier OU defense.

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 240-pound native Oklahoman (from Edmond) has battled injuries throughout his career, but when he’s been healthy he’s been a dominant defensive player for OSU. Ford redshirted the 2021 season because of a torn ACL which forced him to miss the entire season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining if he chooses to use it.

For his career, which has encompassed three full seasons at Oklahoma State, Ford has recorded 59 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. His best season was his freshman year in 2019 when he posted 29 tackles along with six pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. This season, in nine games, he was credited with eight tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss. He also deflected six passes at the line of scrimmage this season and blocked a punt.

OU didn’t show any interest in Ford out of high school, but the Sooners are certainly happy to have him now, and especially taking him from their in-state rival. After Ford announced on Dec. 5 that he was entering the transfer portal, Riley and USC were among the programs showing interest.

Flipping a player from Oklahoma State and beating out Riley for his services makes this a double win for the Sooners. But the best news of all is they’re getting a really good player.

Ford becomes the fifth player to commit to Oklahoma this month through the transfer portal. He joins TE Austin Stogner (from South Carolina), DT Jacob Lacey (from Notre Dame), LB Dasan McCullough (from Indiana) and S Reggie Pearson (from Texas Tech), all of whom will provide immediate help on defense.

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