National Post (National Edition)
You can be athlete and QB at same time, prospect says
Ford hopes to change minds with his skills
There was this rumour, Tre Ford said, that he skipped his medical at the Canadian Football League combine in Toronto on March 24 to go to the Raptors-Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game.
Edmonton Elks GM/head coach Chris Jones asked Ford about it during the player interview sessions that weekend.
“He gave me a real hard time at the CFL combine during the interview, so I knew he was kind of testing me there to see how I react under pressure in certain situations,” Ford said Sunday. “I never went to the Raptors game. I went out with my fiancée for a bite to eat. I don't know who told him that or how it got to that point, but I was just trying to get dinner.”
Ford's answers obviously satisfied Jones, who drafted the former University of Waterloo quarterback with the No. 8 pick last week. Ford initially thought he was likely to go in the second round.
However, when the Elks made two pre-draft trades, one with Hamilton and another with Montreal to wind up with the No. 4 and No. 8 selections, Ford could see the dominoes lining up.
“I had a feeling it could be me (at No. 8) because I know Chris Jones was definitely intrigued by my athletic ability and my quarterbacking skills and I felt it was somewhere I could go in and contribute to the team.”
That's exactly what the six-foot-one, 190-pounder from Niagara Falls, Ont., intends to do. He returned from the Baltimore Ravens mini-camp on Sunday and said by text on Monday afternoon that he will participate in the Elks rookie camp on Wednesday rather than head to the New York Giants mini-camp. He sees a real opportunity in Edmonton, despite the fact the Elks' depth chart already had seven QBs on it, including Nick Arbuckle and Regina-born Mike Beaudry.
“I feel if I do show up to camp late it kind of affects my chances of learning that new offence and being able to take command and control of that offence. I don't want to fall behind because I don't want to limit my opportunities. So I think it is important to try to be there at that camp on time and take control of the playbook.”
Ford quickly took control of the Waterloo Warriors program and eventually took home the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top U Sports player in 2021. He thinks the game well, has a strong arm and is gifted athletically. His 40-yard time at the University of Buffalo pro day was 4.45 seconds.
“How many times do you see a Canadian quarterback getting a couple opportunities to go try out for NFL teams? That tells you on its own exactly what kind of athlete we're dealing with,” Jones said during a recent interview on TSN radio's Jason Gregor Show in Edmonton.
When it comes to descriptors, Ford said he wants to make an important distinction.
“I just want to be seen more as an athletic quarterback, not an athlete who is playing quarterback. When people put labels on it, that's when it gets public and they start seeing it a certain way. People see me play and they're like, `yeah that's an athlete playing quarterback, he can make some of the throws, but look what he can do when he runs.' Versus `oh, he's an athletic quarterback, look what he's doing in the throwing game, oh, and he can run.'
“It's all about how people view it. I just want to get people to understand you can be an athlete and be a quarterback at the same time.”
The Ravens had him in their mini-camp as a quarterback, and he was happy he went for the experience, but he knew they were all set under centre.
“I showed them what I could do, but right now they're in a pretty good quarterback situation. They have Lamar (Jackson). They have their backup Tyler Huntley as well and they have a pretty good third guy as well, Anthony Brown.”
The Giants were reportedly going to give Ford a look at other positions, and that factored into his decision to attend the Elks mini-camp instead.
“I definitely want to take the next step and pursue my career as a quarterback. I know there is obviously going to be a learning curve to playing quarterback, especially at the next level, so I want to get a jump on the playbook for Edmonton, just to be on top of my stuff and give me the best chance to succeed when I go into camp.”
I DEFINITELY WANT TO PURSUE MY CAREER AS A QUARTERBACK.