Patience and a Plan Are Paying Off Says USC WR Kyle Ford
Through injuries, changes and competition at USC, Ford has begun to emerge as a key threat at receiver for the Trojans
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Shortly after USC’s loss to Utah, wide receiver Kyle Ford spoke on the phone with quarterback Caleb Williams.
The pain of the defeat was still fresh for both players. Ford had been on the field for 11 passing plays without receiving a target. He felt like he was ready to help USC win, and he called Williams, wanting to spend the bye week getting on the same page.
“He said no more,” Williams said. “He wants to be on the field, he wants to make those catches for me.”
What followed was a career game for Ford. Six catches, 114 yards, one touchdown to open the fourth quarter and give the Trojans’ a two-possession lead in an eight-point win over Arizona.
It was a moment that Ford has been waiting for after four years at USC. But one that, despite all his setbacks, he never doubted was coming.
“It was cool to have my family and friends just be happy. It’s always good to make them proud,” Ford said. “[But] I knew I could do it.”
The cocoon
Ford arrived at USC in 2019 still recovering from knee surgery he underwent as a senior at Orange Lutheran. He was able to return late in the season and caught a lone pass, 20 yards for a touchdown, but settled for a redshirt year.
A second knee injury suffered in the summer of 2020 kept him out of that season and the 2021 spring camp. He was limited to eight games as a redshirt sophomore and caught 19 passes for 252 yards and two scores.
He still wasn’t the impact player he was expected to be as a top-40 recruit out of high school. But Ford had learned a different perspective from his surgery recovery.
“Find something to get better at every day. And it doesn’t have to be something drastic,” Ford said. “I can’t walk today, but I can tie my shoe now. I can bend over and tie my shoe. Something small. I didn’t run the route at this angle, but I ran it a little less this way. Just small things and they all add up.”
When USC hired Lincoln Riley as its new head coach following the 2021 season, the coach in turn recruited four wide receiver transfers to come in and take snaps. It could have been a situation where Ford felt he was being recruited over, and it was time to look for a new school.
But he instead looked at it as an opportunity to learn from the new faces, as he had learned from Drake London and Michael Pittman and Tyler Vaughns in the past.
“It wasn’t even really a conversation,” Riley said. “Kyle has belief in himself. He did some really nice things in the spring, we were really impressed. He probably would have been teed up to play more in the first half of the season if not for getting injured in camp.”
There they were again, the injuries. Ford missed the back half of fall camp and was limited in the first few weeks of the season. Through USC’s first seven games, he only caught two passes.
Ford admitted to feeling frustration for the missed opportunity in camp, but took it as a chance for more incremental improvements. He cut some of the muscle that he gained from summer workouts and got back down to his high school weight of 215 pounds.
He immediately noticed a difference in how he felt, from his knees to his speed. And it helped set the table for what was to come.
“It’s all part of a plan. And I think that plan is starting to work out a little bit,” Ford said. “God gives you opportunities; he doesn’t give you blessings, he gives you opportunities to bless yourself, really.”
Metamorphosis
Following the Utah game, Ford made a point to talk more with Williams during and after practice. Ford would ask Williams to run a couple extra routes before returning to the locker room.
The receiver wanted his quarterback to have the same confidence in him that Ford never lost.
“I don’t feel like there’s a whole lot of people that can really stick with me,” Ford said. “I’ve always thought that, ever since I was in high school.”
Soon, Williams was identifying when Ford was one-on-one at practice and giving the receiver a look before the snap with a clear message: Beat this guy, and the ball’s coming your way.
The honed connection carried over into the Utah game. Ford broke off a 71-yard reception, running an in route before cutting upfield along the seam to find a weak spot in the defense.
“He has done a good job hanging in there, working, making the most of opportunities and has really clawed himself back into it and played at a high level for us the other night,” Riley said. “If he continues to do that, he’ll continue to earn more opportunities.”
Williams even gave Ford that pre-snap look on a couple of post routes and went after the receiver. Neither pass resulted in a completion, but was progress for Ford’s relationship with the quarterback and place in the offense.
“I’m just happy, I’m really happy where I’m at with everything with my weight, how I’m playing, how physical I’m playing and be at a lower weight at the same time,” Ford said. “It’s all coming together.”
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A friend of mine in Colorado posted this amazing picture of the University of Colorado in the Fall. I just couldn’t help but wonder why they can’t play successful ball in Boulder.
Well not exactly; Sure maybe coaching is the single most important factor in winning at the very top level, but there is a very very close second= talented players. talent is vital; it’s not negotiable…it’s required.
then come the other intangibles: unity, work ethic, chemistry, location, luck. USC went out and acquired many very talented players ON OFFENSE… and maybe some so-so talented players on DEFENSE.
When (I don’t mean if) we beat Cal and Ucla, we will be state champions. Somehow I don’t Riley will mention this fact to anyone. State championship teams are from high school. I doubt, also, that Georgia Southern will be state champions any time soon.
for all his faults, Helton wasn’t alone in mentioning state championship. Nobody makes fun of Dabo when he does it every year after beating South Carolina.
Fantastic 1951 photo of tough Trojan captain LB/G Pat Cannamela (5-10, 210, Ventura JC) holding the ball with Frank Gifford after beating #1 CAL (I know, hard to believe) in Berkeley, 21-14.
I have been really impressed with the maturity and character of several of the players on this team. Two that standout are Taj Washington and Kyle Ford. Both are legit talents, who candidly TR recruited in significant talent to compete for PT. To be honest, neither is at the talent level of either Addison or Mario Williams. But, they stayed and to learn and to compete. They were smart enough to realize this was a once in a lifetime chance. Both Addison and Mario are NFL level receivers. Both Washington and Ford wanted to know if they were the same.… Read more »
So who are the sideline towel wavers and why do they do that? I thought I read somewhere they are S/C assistants. They look stupid, do the players and coaches like it?
I think they are soccer fans left over from the LAFC game next door. All I know is it doesn’t happen on many other sidelines. I wonder the same thing, does Riley encourage it?
I simply can’t imagine Riley encouraging it, but he obviously knows it’s going on. Like almost everyone else, I believe it looks ridiculous. Small potatoes overall.
Sorry, but I’m selfishly pulling for a 30-point Trojan win in this 109th meeting between the teams. I really don’t like the miserable Bears, and hopefully, USC crushes Justin Wilcox’s perennial losers. When I think of CAL, I only think of Aaron Rodgers blowing his perfect shot at beating USC in 2004, only to lose 23-17 near the Trojan goal line in front of 90,000, including me, at the insanely loud Coliseum. USC is always good for better TV ratings, even at 7:30 at night. CAL should be thankful we’ve played them all these years. Let’s send them off with… Read more »
✌✌, I believe that’s true, except for maybe a couple who could somehow convince LR to keep them on (like a temporary insanity defense). But I’ve never seen a thorough breakdown matching up those exact names.
Tom Girardi faced more than 150 complaints before State Bar took action, records show LAT — The State Bar of California received 205 complaints against Los Angeles legal legend Tom Girardi alleging he misappropriated settlement money, abandoned clients and committed other serious ethical violations over the course of his four-decade career, the agency disclosed Thursday in response to a lawsuit brought by The Times… “One of his greatest courtroom victories became the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film ‘Erin Brockovich,’ and he married an aspiring actress, Erika Jayne, appearing alongside her on the reality series ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. “Reporting by The… Read more »
Nice story. One can be too judgmental sometimes for a case like Girardi’s. All of us have the ability to cut corners. All of us are tempted to do so from time to time. And, all of us may think that we will not have any significant consequences. My guess is Tom had a lifestyle to support and he figured he would simply borrow from his trust account to do so and then pay it back later. My guess is also every once in a while he will be clear enough mentally to know what happened. Happened to F. Lee… Read more »
All things come back to USC, huh? F. Lee Bailey was of course a part of OJ Simpson’s Dream Team, and was responsible for famously cross-examining detective Mark Fuhrman and baiting him into lying about using racial epithets in his past, for which Fuhrman eventually pled no contest to perjury charges.
What a story, Allen! One of the former lawyers in my firm was a friend of Girardi’s and dropped his name all the time. I had one case where we were up against his team. He had a “Champions of Justice” am radio on Sundays, and one day dedicated the show to talking about our case, which seemed a little unfair to us since our case was ongoing (it eventually settled). It is a surprise to me that guys can pull off so much fraud while hiding in plain sight. That just boggles my mind.
Kind of unusual for a player to be losing weight. Teams usually want everyone beefed up. Ford has shown what he can do, they just need to go to him more. Great kid.
Interesting, I kind of read the weight loss as a consequence of better conditioning. Less baby fat more muscle. Perhaps his injuries have played a part in his conditioning regime. I could be wrong.
He still wasn’t the impact player he was expected to be as a top-40 recruit out of high school. But Ford had learned a different perspective from his surgery recovery.
When USC hired Lincoln Riley as its new head coach following the 2021 season, the coach in turn recruited four wide receiver transfers to come in and take snaps. It could have been a situation where Ford felt he was being recruited over, and it was time to look for a new school.
Soon, Williams was identifying when Ford was one-on-one at practice and giving the receiver a look before the snap with a clear message: Beat this guy, and the ball’s coming your way.
A friend of mine in Colorado posted this amazing picture of the University of Colorado in the Fall. I just couldn’t help but wonder why they can’t play successful ball in Boulder.
The most important things in real estate, location, location, location. The 3 most important things in football, Coaching, coaching, coaching.
Well not exactly; Sure maybe coaching is the single most important factor in winning at the very top level, but there is a very very close second= talented players. talent is vital; it’s not negotiable…it’s required.
then come the other intangibles: unity, work ethic, chemistry, location, luck. USC went out and acquired many very talented players ON OFFENSE… and maybe some so-so talented players on DEFENSE.
They are all too high
Legal weed.
When (I don’t mean if) we beat Cal and Ucla, we will be state champions. Somehow I don’t Riley will mention this fact to anyone. State championship teams are from high school. I doubt, also, that Georgia Southern will be state champions any time soon.
for all his faults, Helton wasn’t alone in mentioning state championship. Nobody makes fun of Dabo when he does it every year after beating South Carolina.
True, but Dabo never rove his team 6 feet under all while trying to convince everyone they would be better by the end of the season.
Fantastic 1951 photo of tough Trojan captain LB/G Pat Cannamela (5-10, 210, Ventura JC) holding the ball with Frank Gifford after beating #1 CAL (I know, hard to believe) in Berkeley, 21-14.
I have been really impressed with the maturity and character of several of the players on this team. Two that standout are Taj Washington and Kyle Ford. Both are legit talents, who candidly TR recruited in significant talent to compete for PT. To be honest, neither is at the talent level of either Addison or Mario Williams. But, they stayed and to learn and to compete. They were smart enough to realize this was a once in a lifetime chance. Both Addison and Mario are NFL level receivers. Both Washington and Ford wanted to know if they were the same.… Read more »
So who are the sideline towel wavers and why do they do that? I thought I read somewhere they are S/C assistants. They look stupid, do the players and coaches like it?
I think they are soccer fans left over from the LAFC game next door. All I know is it doesn’t happen on many other sidelines. I wonder the same thing, does Riley encourage it?
I simply can’t imagine Riley encouraging it, but he obviously knows it’s going on. Like almost everyone else, I believe it looks ridiculous. Small potatoes overall.
Beat the Bears! Badly if possible.
Yes, beat the Bears but by no more than 20!
Sorry, but I’m selfishly pulling for a 30-point Trojan win in this 109th meeting between the teams. I really don’t like the miserable Bears, and hopefully, USC crushes Justin Wilcox’s perennial losers. When I think of CAL, I only think of Aaron Rodgers blowing his perfect shot at beating USC in 2004, only to lose 23-17 near the Trojan goal line in front of 90,000, including me, at the insanely loud Coliseum. USC is always good for better TV ratings, even at 7:30 at night. CAL should be thankful we’ve played them all these years. Let’s send them off with… Read more »
Allen correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t all those players that “opted” out of the Cal game last year gone this year?
✌✌, I believe that’s true, except for maybe a couple who could somehow convince LR to keep them on (like a temporary insanity defense). But I’ve never seen a thorough breakdown matching up those exact names.
hmmm…I like the towel wavers= very encouraging for the players.
Tom Girardi faced more than 150 complaints before State Bar took action, records show LAT — The State Bar of California received 205 complaints against Los Angeles legal legend Tom Girardi alleging he misappropriated settlement money, abandoned clients and committed other serious ethical violations over the course of his four-decade career, the agency disclosed Thursday in response to a lawsuit brought by The Times… “One of his greatest courtroom victories became the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film ‘Erin Brockovich,’ and he married an aspiring actress, Erika Jayne, appearing alongside her on the reality series ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. “Reporting by The… Read more »
I kept reading for the USC connection, and it was you Allen!😎
I finally got to it! My closing statement. 😉
Nice story. One can be too judgmental sometimes for a case like Girardi’s. All of us have the ability to cut corners. All of us are tempted to do so from time to time. And, all of us may think that we will not have any significant consequences. My guess is Tom had a lifestyle to support and he figured he would simply borrow from his trust account to do so and then pay it back later. My guess is also every once in a while he will be clear enough mentally to know what happened. Happened to F. Lee… Read more »
All things come back to USC, huh? F. Lee Bailey was of course a part of OJ Simpson’s Dream Team, and was responsible for famously cross-examining detective Mark Fuhrman and baiting him into lying about using racial epithets in his past, for which Fuhrman eventually pled no contest to perjury charges.
What a story, Allen! One of the former lawyers in my firm was a friend of Girardi’s and dropped his name all the time. I had one case where we were up against his team. He had a “Champions of Justice” am radio on Sundays, and one day dedicated the show to talking about our case, which seemed a little unfair to us since our case was ongoing (it eventually settled). It is a surprise to me that guys can pull off so much fraud while hiding in plain sight. That just boggles my mind.
Kind of unusual for a player to be losing weight. Teams usually want everyone beefed up. Ford has shown what he can do, they just need to go to him more. Great kid.
Interesting, I kind of read the weight loss as a consequence of better conditioning. Less baby fat more muscle. Perhaps his injuries have played a part in his conditioning regime. I could be wrong.