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Trace Ford on His Body Transformation and Recovering from COVID-19

Ford talks overcoming the coronavirus and eating chicken and broccoli.

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The secret for Trace Ford gaining 21 pounds in the past year is apparently fairly simple: chicken, rice and broccoli for lunch and dinner.

On Wednesday, Ford spoke with the media for the first time since arriving at Oklahoma State, not doing any interviews last season as part of Mike Gundy’s first-year player rule. His absence from interviews was somewhat suspenseful as he climbed from four-star recruit out of Edmond-Santa Fe to one of the brightest spots on the Cowboys’ defense as a true freshman.

Ford played in all 13 of the Pokes’ games last season, accumulating 29 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, five pass breakups and nine quarterback hurries. His five pass breakups were as many as now-Cleveland Browns corner A.J. Green, and his nine quarterback hurries led the Cowboys by four.

But as good as he was last season, his new body and developing maturity point that he can be even better as a sophomore in 2020.

“My physicality, just getting stronger and bigger, putting my hands on the tackles and tight ends without being afraid and trying to run around them,” Ford said of where he has improved most this offseason. “I think I’m definitely coming into this year with more physicality and coming in the pocket and hitting people, I think that’s what I focused on during the offseason.”

Ford said he has also learned to like film during the offseason, a part of him being a more mature football player.

He also added that he is working his way back into full fitness, though. Ford contracted COVID-19 this offseason and said he was symptomatic, losing his sense of smell and taste. He said he also experienced headaches, sweating and chills. He said he is about 240 pounds right now, eight pounds lighter than his roster-listed 248.

Ford said he feels safe with the team and the precautions the Cowboys are taking despite already experiencing what the virus could be like. He also has a unique perspective in that his mother, Desirae, is a nurse practitioner.

“She’s obviously concerned,” Ford said. “She tells me to wash my hands every 30 minutes, but I’ve already had it. She knows I’m safe. I live alone. She knows I social distance. She knows I want to play, so she’s not concerned for me because she knows I’m taking the right precautions to stay safe.”

 

 

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