‘A football player first’: Colin Ford isn’t seen as just Waubonsie’s starting quarterback
Colin Ford hates his red practice jersey.
Sure, the uniform indicates his position as the starting quarterback for Waubonsie Valley High School, but it also makes practice a lot less fun sometimes. Red means he can’t be hit or tackled, and in Ford’s eyes, football isn’t worthwhile without contact.
“He gets frustrated with me because I hold him out of board drills,” said Warriors head coach Adam Pucylowski. “He’s like, ‘Can I do this?’ asking me to do board drills and Oklahoma drills. I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m an idiot if I let you do that.’”
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Ford can dominate physically. But Pucylowski wants his quarterback healthy as Ford enters his senior season, his first as the full-time starter but second as an uncommitted recruit. Holding an offer from Wyoming and interest from other schools like Butler, Central Michigan, and Northern Iowa, Ford faces multiple possibilities.
Some squads like North Dakota State believe he’s better suited as a tight end at the next level, and while Ford began playing the position last season, he wouldn’t mind a switch. After all, it would mean no red jersey.
“I like to consider myself as a football player first and a quarterback second,” Ford said. “Just really being a football player. That's what I think a lot of schools are seeing me as other positions for. My athleticism and willingness to be physical, that helps me as a quarterback.”
Pucylowski said Ford won the “genetic lottery” with his size and athleticism, but Ford aims to become more well-rounded in his quarterbacking, improving his accuracy and speed. The accuracy detail involved multiple workouts with his receivers to perfect timing his passes while the speed aspect took place on the track. Ford joined teammate Gavin Ali Hanlon on the Warriors’ track and field team, and after an impressive indoor season, realized he had potential for some hardware.
Clocking in several sub-11-second 100-meter dash times, including a personal record of 10.89, Ford qualified for state.
“Those are things that get his mind going,” Pucylowski said. “He just does it. He works really hard.”
Adversity struck quick for Ford last year when he was named backup quarterback after the preseason. He got one start under center, but hardly sat on the bench. Offered the choice between defensive end and tight end, Ford opted to stay on offense.
“He didn’t love it. He wanted to be the guy,” Pucylowski said. “But he jumped out there, had a bunch of catches, had a couple of touchdowns. Just his ability and willingness. It’s, like, ‘We can’t have you sit and do nothing, you’re too good of an athlete.’”
In July, Ford received his first FBS offer from Wyoming, a sigh of relief for the quarterback that will let him focus on the upcoming season. As Pucylowski said, once one school makes a move, more will follow. Ford said while he loves the position, he’s open to switching from quarterback as long as the school is the right fit.
As the fall season officially opens with Monday’s first practice, Ford has new objectives. The Warriors went 5-5 last season, dropping some close games. Ford’s teammates will turn to him in the clutch, and maintaining a calm demeanor will be crucial. As a senior starter, leadership is necessary.
“I like to pull guys aside and tell them, like, if they mess up on this, this is how we can do it better the next time,” Ford said. “Gain trust from people without screaming in their face.”
“He’s just an awesome young man,” Pucylowski said. “He’s great to coach. You get to a certain point with some guys that they just have a level of maturity where it’s more like having experience at the college level.”