Ex-Oklahoma RB Keith Ford says he will transfer to Texas A&M
Keith Ford says one visit to College Station was all he needed to make his decision.
By
Jerry Hinnen
•
1 min read
From the beginning, Texas A&M was always the most likely landing spot for former five-star running back recruit-turned-Oklahoma transfer Keith Ford. So it was no surprise Thursday when Ford told GigEm247.com that he would become an Aggie.
“I’m going to Aggieland,” Ford said after an unofficial visit. “It feels great ... What really helped me come to my decision was when I sat down with Coach [Kevin] Sumlin. It didn’t sound like it was rehearsed or anything. He was just talking to me man-to-man and laid out his expectations for me. He also wanted me to believe in him. After I heard all of that I was like, ‘Yea, I’m coming here.’ I can't wait to get up there."
Ford announced just nine days ago he would leave Norman following a spring suspension over academic and team rules violations. But Ford said this week that neither the suspension nor a crowded Sooners depth chart (featuring Samaje Perine and Alex Ross) had motivated his decision, which he'd reached after failing to connect with new Oklahoma running backs coach Jay Boulware.
After implying Boulware had "treated me like I was in high school," Ford had more parting words for Oklahoma's program Thursday after speaking with fellow ex-Sooner-turned-Aggie tailback Brandon Williams -- words that won't go over well with his former coaching staff.
“[Brandon] told me that it was very laid back up there and he said if you do what you need to do that everything will be fine,” Ford said. “He said that A&M allows you to create your own path and your own destiny. He said everyone really cares about your school work and getting your degree. It was nice to hear about how much they put back into academics because that wasn’t something I experienced at OU.”
Ford will sit out the mandated transfer year and have two seasons of eligibility remaining at the start of the 2016 season.
The No. 4 running back and No. 24 prospect overall in the class of 2013, Ford made a limited impact as a freshman before carrying 71 times for 392 yards and scoring six total touchdowns in 2014 -- good enough to finish as the Sooners' third-leading rusher, despite only appearing in eight games due to injury.
