Ford’s Hard Work Earns Scholarship, Burlsworth Nomination
November 02, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
MSU wide receiver has gone from walk-on standout, to earning a scholarship.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's Christian Ford has seemingly come from out of nowhere to play a significant role for the 2021 Bulldogs. The junior receiver is catching passes and making plays on the field and now, he's scored a couple of times off it.
Ford, who began his MSU career as a walk-on, was placed on full scholarship this past Sunday following Mississippi State's 31-17 win over then-No. 12 Kentucky. Then, on Tuesday, Ford was announced as a nominee for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. The Burlsworth Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
"He's a great example of a steady worker," State head coach Mike Leach said of Ford earlier this season. "If anybody's working afterwards, it's him. He works incredibly hard. He never stops working."
Ford stands as one of the 10 State players to reach double figures in receptions this season. The Atlanta, Ga., native has caught 14 passes for 160 yards.
Ford has been especially productive in MSU's last four games, helping the Bulldogs go 3-1 over that stretch. He hauled in four passes for 40 yards as State earned a road win over then-No. 15 Texas A&M. Ford then made two catches for 26 yards against Alabama. At Vanderbilt, Ford set MSU career bests with five catches for 63 yards as State routed the Commodores, then in the win over Kentucky this past Saturday, Ford had one reception for 17 yards.
Perhaps none of his prior catches were as big as the ones he's picked up in the last 48 hours or so though. Ford's commitment to his craft has paid off.
