An Unconventional Path

Every young sports fan has the same memory. Waking up, jumping out of bed on a Saturday morning and looking at the clock to realize the game won't be on for hours. The anticipation has been building up all week for the big game. After wearing the jersey all day long, it's finally time for kickoff. Gazing into the television, fans across the nation fantasize about playing for their favorite team. For most sports fans, suiting up in their favorite team's colors is just a pipe dream.

But not for Kyle Ford. The Trojan wide receiver is living out his dream by playing for his favorite childhood team. For Ford, the formerly No. 3 ranked wide receiver prospect in the nation, the dream was always USC.

"USC was my dream school," said Ford. "I think watching all of the receivers be successful here is something that I always wanted to do -- from JuJu Smith-Schuster to Robert Woods. From being able to watch the games in person as a little kid, wearing the jersey, and now, to be able to be here and to be able to contribute to this university has been a big deal for me."

While the Trojans were Ford's first love, football was not. The Orange County native didn't put pads on until eighth grade, taking a liking to a couple of different sports first.

"I didn't really play football until high school, just flag." Ford reminisced, "I played baseball as my number one sport. I also played basketball. I don't think my dad wanted me to be hit that early since my body was not developed all the way."

Though his dad wasn't the biggest fan of Ford getting hit at a young age, he still pushed him to be the best in the other sports that he was competing in.

"My dad molded me into the person I am, especially in my work ethic," he said. "Like there would be a birthday party, and he would say, 'You're going to the cages first, and then you're going to go to the birthday party.'"

If his father was his drive, then his mother was his rock, never leaving his side through Ford's entire journey.

"She's the best. She took care of me through both of my surgeries and was there for me when I needed anything, even when I wasn't happy," he said. "Whatever the case has been, she's been the best for me."

The surgeries that Ford refers to were to repair his ACL – twice. His first injury occurred during his senior season of high school, and then he tore it again in the after his freshman year at USC. Since an ACL tear is such a serious injury, it can significantly set back an athlete's progress and even sometimes end their career. But Ford always persevered through the challenges and fought his way back.

"The first time I did it, I had never really been hurt in my life. So when I got hurt, I just couldn't believe it, and it was really hard on me mentally. I was always mad all the time, and I didn't understand why," Ford reflected. "I battled back, got my confidence back to where it was before, and I was ready to roll.

"And then it happened the second time. Obviously, it's hard, because that takes away almost three years of your journey because there's physically rehabbing the injury, and then you have to make sure you're totally confident in your movements. You just have to try to take it day-by-day and keep your mentals good."

But as a true Trojan does, Ford has always fought on, practicing as hard as he can and playing even harder. In his first stint with USC, Ford recorded 39 receptions, totaling 617 yards and 4 touchdowns. Since returning back to Troy after a brief stop across town as UCLA, Ford is on track to have his best season yet with 17 receptions for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns, sitting firmly in the starting Z receiver role.

Ford has let all of his experiences guide him in his leadership of a young Trojan team.

"I'm pretty vocal," he said. "I'm trying to get the guys going and get us pumped up to go make some plays and keep everybody loose. That's my thing – to just being a light bulb for our team when it's dying out. I try to get it going again."

Early in his USC career, those lights for him were his former teammates, current Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon Ra St-Brown. Even from the NFL, they are constantly guiding Ford as he chases his dream of playing at the next level.

"Amon is probably the hardest on me, and I love it. You need friends like that to be on you always, like 'What can you do better?'" Ford laughed. "Then Drake is really supportive of me. He's proud of the journey I've taken and acknowledges that I've been through a different path."

Even though Ford's path has not taken the route he expected, he's still living out his dream of playing wide receiver at USC. With all of the advice from his former teammates and others he looks up to, the final goal has never been out of sight. Ford will keep pushing till he gets exactly where he wants.

"My college career has been a little hindered, but you just keep stacking. And I'm definitely
stacking in the right way right now."

Players Mentioned

Kyle Ford

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University Southern California Trojans