Ford Coping

UK receiver DeMoreo Ford returned to practice this week after attending the funeral of his older brother, Kendall Thomas, in his hometown of LaGrange, Ga. over the week.

Ford has also been recovering from a torn patella tendon suffered in spring practice. UK Coach Rich Brooks said Ford could play a few snaps in Sunday’s opener at Louisville.

Ford said it was good to get back on the football field.

“It was sort of a relief,” he said. “Down there, everybody’s in the same mood. I was too, but I have to be strong and bounce back from it. I was eager to get back so I could free my mind.”

Ford said about that eight family members will make the trip from LaGrange for the U of L game.

“It will help them get their minds off things,” Ford said. “I play football for my family. They come up here to get away from everything for just a day or so. I can’t wait until they come up and have some fun. They’ve been coming every year, even if I don’t play.”

Phillips said that Ford’s biggest value could be on the perimeter as a blocker in the running game.

“We know he can go in there and dig out safeties and crack linebackers,” said Phillips.

Phillips always jokes with Ford about his lack of speed. (”If you see me run a drop back pass with DeMoreo and it’s a deep ball, you need to be booing,” Phillips said.)

But Ford does have two long touchdown catches on his resume’: a 70-yarder against Clemson in the 2006 Music City Bowl and a 27-yarder last year against Vanderbilt.

Phillips said that Ford’s excellent blocking allows him to get loose on play-action fakes.

“He’s so aggressive, in getting support that it allows him to run past people,” Phillips said.