Trace Ford, Jayden Jernigan shine on OSU's defensive line
CORVALLIS, Ore. — The image certainly didn't seem out of place to Oklahoma State fans at first glance.
The guy in the No. 94 jersey flying around from his defensive end position, getting in the quarterback's face and causing problems.
Jordan B rail ford did all those things, down to the position and jersey number, last season.
But he's in the NFL with Washington now. And the guy who was filling his role Friday night at Oregon State was hitting home runs for Edmond Santa Fe four months ago.
Trace Ford wasn't one of the true freshmen Oklahoma State coaches were talking about as a potential rotation player early in camp, but he proved too talented to hold out.
“He's gonna be someone we can really build a package around, with the things he can do,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said.
Jayden Jernigan, a true freshman defensive tackle, also fought his way into the rotation after enrolling last January.
True freshmen playing on either the offensive or defensive line is rare at the Power 5 level, but Ford and Jernigan stated their cases and earned their chances.
“You know how hard it is for a defensive lineman to play when he's that young?” Knowles asked. “For Jernigan,
playing inside as a true freshman, that's hard to do. We think he's gonna be really good, though.”
Jernigan, a 6-foot, 300pound product of Allen, Texas, didn't record any statistics — which isn't unusual for a defensive tackle — Friday night at Oregon State, but he was on the field plenty.
Same for Ford, who had
quarterback hurry and a pair of pass breakups at the line of scrimmage.
Mike Gundy enjoys t he opportunity to take credit for Ford's recruitment after seeing him stealing bases in a baseball game against Stillwater High a couple years ago.
The 6- 3 Ford l ooks l i ke he's added some weight to his
baseball body since initially weighing in at 227 pounds, but he hasn't lost any of the speed that made him such an attractive recruit at Santa Fe in the first place.
“He's got incredible quickness,” Knowles said. “His closing speed, point A to point B, is as good as anybody we've had come in. He's gonna be a dynamic player.”