OSU Star Defender Trace Ford Visits OU After Entering Transfer Portal

Just days after entering the transfer portal and exploring other options outside of Oklahoma State, where he has been since signing with the program in 2019, defensive end Trace Ford on Thursday shared on his social media that he is visiting a school close to home that . . . well . . . would certainly sting if it wound up being his next destination.

Cryptic enough? That school, as you might’ve guessed from the headline, was OU. There’s been some smoke behind the scenes that OU could be in the mix for Ford, who had 8.5 sacks in his time at OSU and was a game-wrecker off the edge, but this would seem to confirm it’s more than just smoke. (For what it’s worth, OU has been a trendy behind-the-scenes sleeper destination for former four-star Braylin Presley who is also transferring out of OSU.)

Ford’s career at OSU started with one of the most impressive freshman seasons by a defensive player in many moons but it was derailed over and over again by knee injuries. Remarkably, he was each time able to battle back and get on the field to make a difference despite that. But after this past season, he declared he would spend his remaining eligibility elsewhere.

OU this past season ranked ninth among all Big 12 teams in defensive yards allowed per game while ranking sixth in the conference in total sacks with 26, marking OU’s worst season in terms of sack numbers since 2017. The addition of Ford would bolster that attack in a big way behind a familiar name who would be an instant fan favorite, too. Ford is a product of Edmond Santa Fe in Oklahoma whom OU showed interest in as a high school talent but never ultimately pulled the trigger on with an offer.