What Stillwater's Josh Ford — a 6-6, 250-pound tight end — brings to Oklahoma State: 'He's that old-school football player

Ford, a senior at Stillwater High School, measures in at 6-foot-6, the tallest on the Pioneers’ roster. He weighs around 255 pounds, larger than some of Stillwater’s offensive linemen.

This summer, he surpassed the 250-pound threshold. Paired with Ford’s last name, he earned the nickname “F250” after the truck this offseason, dropped by the PA announcer at Pioneer Stadium on Friday for Ford’s only reception of the night.

Ford’s currently assisting in the Pioneers’ attempt to defend their Class 6AII title from last season. But come January, Ford’s steadfast in his commitment to Oklahoma State, eagerly awaiting signing day this December.

“He’s that old-school football player,” said Stillwater coach Chad Cawood. “What do you need me to do, I’m going to go do it.”

Ford keeps up with Cowboys’ season every week. He keeps in contact with a coaching staff he loves their “values”. Even with OSU starting the season 2-2 – tied for the worst start since 2016 – Ford’s still eager to join the program this winter.

“I just don’t know what it’s like, I haven’t been there yet, I’ll see what it’s like in a second,” Ford said. “I just can’t wait to get there and help them out.”

As for remaining in his hometown, Ford grew into an OSU fandom. His father, Ray, was a defensive end for Baylor in the 90s, resulting in Ford initially growing up a Bears fan.

Ford’s position arsenal is expansive. He plays tight end – against Booker T. Washington, he caught only one pass for 12 yards. He’s a bruising fullback, setting several crucial blocks to push the Pioneers into the end zone.

He’ll spotlight on defense, too. Playing on the line and in a middle linebacker role, Ford consistently found himself in the backfield.

Players like Ford don’t often come through the program, Cawood said. The Pioneers have had their greats, but Power Five talents are hard to come by, the Stillwater coach said.

“You don’t find guys that are 6-6, 260 pounds that run like him, that are physical like him,” Cawood said. “He’s a Power Five football player and that’s what they look like.

“We haven’t had a ton of those, we’ve had a lot of great football players and we’ve had kids that have gone on to play. We’ve had offensive linemen that have went on and played at some places…We’ve had guys, but we don’t have them very often because guys like that are special.”

Ford’s former teammate, center JaKobe Sanders, signed with the Cowboys during the most recent signing day.

Cawood’s been in the Stillwater program for 26 years. He remembers a 12-year-old Ford – then desiring to be a quarterback who threw it a little too hard – being a skinny kid growing up. But he’s prioritized his diet, notably eating a dozen eggs daily, to bulk up over the years.

“He eats a ton to get to where he’s at, he loves the weight room,” Cawood said. “This is where he wanted to be.”

His Power Five moment? With a chipped bone in his pelvis, Ford played five snaps in Stillwater’s state championship win against Choctaw, including a crucial block to spring running back Noah Roberts for 48 yards.

“He says, ‘I’m not taking the ring if I can’t play,’” Cawood said. “So, he rides a bike the entire game, we put him in, he cuts off a backside blocker and we go.”

After the game, OSU coaches called to offer Ford a scholarship. Now engrained in his senior season at Stillwater, Ford would be the first player in OSU’s 2024 recruiting class to commit. Eight months later, his commitment hasn’t wavered.

“I’m just ready to get there,” Ford said. “I’ll be there January 10.”

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