The Oklahoma Sooners football team has garnered plenty of awards over the past few seasons, including back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
One award that might have gone under the radar is the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best offensive line. The Sooners were this year's recipient, and for good reason, as four members of the unit attended the NFL Combine in Indianapolis at the beginning of March. Headlining the group was offensive tackle Cody Ford, who may be a possible target for the Redskins in the first round.
"Blocking for Kyler [Murray] and Baker [Mayfield], we'll give them 10 seconds," Ford said during the press conference at the Combine. "We take pride in that. Being able to do that in college, I feel like we'll be able to do that at the next level being that the receivers and QBs are more skilled at that level. It might not be 10 seconds, but it shows we have the ability to do so."
Ford, a three-star recruit, redshirted upon arriving at Oklahoma in 2015 before becoming a starter the next year. After playing just three games in 2016 due to an injury, he bounced back to help the Sooners reach the College Football Playoff in 2017 and turned in his best season in 2018, earning second-team All-Big 12 and third-team All-American for a program that returned to the national semifinals.
According to Jon Ledyard of The Draft Network, Ford is "among the best and most fun of the 2019 offensive line class, as he shows everything from high-end promise to unbelievably physical finishes. The muscle of the Oklahoma offensive line, Ford has just one year as a full-time starter under his belt, but already his mental processing and technique are pretty impressive. He's a mauler at the point of attack, while also possessing the athleticism to get out in space and the agility in pass protection to shut down all types of rushers."
Take a look at photos from Friday March 1, 2019 at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. Photos from NFL.
Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Bates during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Charlotte offensive lineman Nate Davis runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
UCLA offensive lineman Andre Jamesduring the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Batesduring the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Alabama running back Damien Harris during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Grayduring the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Offensive lineman huddle up during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Indiana long snapper Dan Godsil runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
South Carolina offensive lineman Dennis Daley runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Deion Calhoun runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Washington State offensive lineman Andre Dillard runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Wisconsin offensive lineman David Edwards runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Arkansas offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Stanford offensive lineman Nate Herbig during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Ferris State offensive lineman Devon Johnson during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Alabama offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
The offensive line group warms up during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Utah kicker Mitch Wishnowsky runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Utah kicker Mitch Wishnowsky runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Stanford kicker Jake Bailey runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M running back Trayveon Williams during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Stanford kicker Jake Bailey during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Elon offensive lineman Olisaemeka Udoh runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Memphis running back Darrell Henderson during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Sioux Falls offensive lineman Trey Pipkins runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Florida offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Washington running back Myles Gaskin during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
San Diego State offensive lineman Tyler Roemer runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Virginia Tech offensive lineman Yosuah Nijmanduring the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
San Diego State offensive lineman Tyler Roemerduring the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Boston College offensive lineman Chris Lindstromduring the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Grayduring the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Wake Forest offensive lineman Phil Haynes runs a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Hiro Ueno/NFL)
Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams during the 2019 Scouting Combine, Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
One of the biggest questions surrounding Ford has been where he will line up at the next level. He spent his entire Oklahoma career at tackle and feels more comfortable playing on the outside, but at the Combine many NFL teams inquired about him possibly moving to guard. Ford admitted the transition would be difficult, as he rarely got down into a three-point stance at Oklahoma. Even on third downs, he assumed an upright position.
Still, that does not mean he'll be shying away from the challenge.
"My style of play is to get the job done no matter what it takes," Ford said. "My mentality going into every game, every play, is to finish everybody in front of me."
