During a day every player was trying to impress, former Oklahoma defensive end Trace Ford left the biggest impression.
Ford raised the most eyebrows during OU's Pro Day on Tuesday as former Sooners tried to improve their stock one last showing before the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Without an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, Pro Day was Ford's and other players' only chance to show out in front of NFL scouts, other than what they put on film during their careers.
Ford, listed at 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds, had a shuttle time of 4.43 seconds and was clocked at 7.18 seconds during the three-cone drill. Had he participated at the NFL Scouting Combine, both times would have ranked fifth among defensive ends.
Other Ford numbers included a 10' 2" broad jump and 34" vertical. Ford had the best vertical compared to every other OU player measured during Pro Day. His broad jump was second among Sooners on Tuesday behind only safety Billy Bowman, who's listed at 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds.
Ford also ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, which would have been second among defensive ends at the combine.
Ford played two seasons at OU after transferring from Bedlam rival Oklahoma State, where he spent his first four years. He was Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year his first year on campus in 2019. Ford then had another solid season as a sophomore before missing 2021 because of injury. His 2022 season was also hindered by an injury.
At OU, Ford played in every game the past two seasons but started only his OU debut in the Sooners' 2023 season opener. Last season, he tallied 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one pass breakup and one QB hurry.
Primarily an edge rusher, Ford also filled in some at cheetah for OU last season. Because of that versatility and the fact he even had the ability to play that position, OU coach Brent Venables praised Ford and predicted then that he would get a chance in the NFL.