Baseball vs. Football, and a Third Arkansas State Championship: Interview with Bentonville’s Kasey Ford

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Few could mistake Texas A&M true freshman quarterback Kyler Murray for Bentonville’s senior quarterback Kasey Ford. Perhaps the biggest differences between the two is Murray is about 5’10”, 185 pounds, while Ford is 6’5”, 260 pounds. Another big difference is Murray is a dual-threat and fast on fast while Ford is a pocket passer known more for his arm than beating you with his feet. The one thing both quarterbacks have in common is championship experience and Ford has a chance to do what Murray did upon the end of his senior season, win a third consecutive state championship.

The fanfare for Murray was at a whole other level after helping Allen High School (Allen, TX) to three championships without a loss. Murray also put up video game kind of numbers but the end results of the team game have been the same, a state championship trophy for the school’s mantle and rings for the players.

Ford plays in a different offensive scheme than what Murray executed. Bentonville’s quarterback threw for 1,337 yards with 14 touchdowns against just four picks in 13 games last season in a pro-style set. The Tigers like to use smash-mouth offense and defense only giving up more than 30 points once in a game last season, to Broken Arrow (34), and holding national powerhouse Bergen Catholic (NJ) to 21 points.

As Ford navigates his way through his senior season, he is on the doorstep of something never accomplished at the highest level of competition in Arkansas, being the starting quarterback for three consecutive 7A state championship teams. The path will not be easy but the Tigers are off to a 3-0 start after upending Rockhurst in Kansas City 24-13, Valor Christian (CO) 41-22, and Rickards (Tallahassee, FL) 37-8.

The next set of games are now on the schedule dueling in-state foes with tough upcoming games against both Fort Smith squads, first Southside and then Northside, and then the local teams start filling the docket. Getting past Har-Ber, Springdale, Rogers, Rogers Heritage, and rival Fayetteville will not be an easy task and all of that is before entering the playoffs.

One of the more interesting notes about all the success Kasey has had on the field, his true passion is actually in another sport, baseball. All the fanfare in recruiting Murray received could have been somewhat similar for Ford if that is what he wanted. Instead he followed his heart and gut instincts verbally committing to play baseball for Kansas State in January.

Ford’s only “big” football offers are from Louisville and Texas Tech, but as you will read in the interview, the list could have been long and distinguished if he wanted to pursue collegiate gridiron glory over diamond dreams of Omaha.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Kasey to talk about his football journey to this point in his high school career, what winning a third title would mean to him, and got some clarity on baseball verses football and what could happen if Major League Baseball comes calling this summer.

Interview

Kasey, you are in the unique position of having won back-to-back state championships as a starting quarterback. How has the experienced helped you entering your senior season?

“It definitely gives me confidence as each year goes by. It gives me more of a good feeling about the offense because I know everything about the offense. I know what I’m doing, I’ve been doing it for a couple of years now.”

I know the team is 2-0 but in your opinion, with all of your experience, how does the team look for the rest of the season with the goal of a third state championship title?

“We’re looking good so far. We’re running and throwing well. One of our worries in the offseason was if we’re going to have a line to protect and run. They have stepped up so much. We only had one returning starter on the line. They’ve been working really hard and have stepped up.”

Looking ahead on the schedule, what are some of the upcoming games you are excited to play this year?

“One game everybody in Bentonville looks forward to is in Week 10 when we play Fayetteville. Let me put it this way, if you play for Bentonville you want to have that feeling of beating Fayetteville.”

Didn’t you beat them twice last year?

“Yes sir. I got that great feeling twice.”

What is the strength of this year’s football team?

“Absolutely our defense. I think that has been the strength of our team the last couple of years. Our defense has always been top notch, one of the best in the state or maybe even in the country. Props to those guys. Those guys keep us in the game. Even when we’re not moving the ball or scoring they are keeping us in the game by getting stops and three-and-outs. That’s definitely the strength of our football team.”

What about for you personally? What are your strengths on the field as a quarterback?

“My strengths as a quarterback are probably my arm strength. I think I’m able to throw the ball around more than other quarterbacks in our conference. With that said, you have to have receivers that can catch it and I certainly do. Those guys are grabbing the balls I throw in the air and you have to have a line to block so I can get it off in time.”

Did you earn any individual honors in football at the end of last season?

“I was All-Conference and All-State.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“Just to get another ring, get another state championship under our belt. That’d be great to be the first 7A to win back-to-back-to-back. For me individually, to be the first quarterback to do it, that’d be a great accomplishment for me.”

Here comes a hard question for ya. You’re committed to Kansas State in baseball but if things started picking up for you in football with offers, would you still choose baseball over football or would you choose football over baseball?

“That’s a good question. I’ve been dealing with that since I committed in January. For a while I had my recruiting (football) open willing to listen to anybody still interested in me because I was still open for my options even though I wanted to go play baseball. I wanted to be open just in case something came to me that I couldn’t pass. But as of now I have pretty much closed my recruiting. Unless Kansas State wanted me to play football and baseball for them, I don’t think I’d go play football for anybody.”

This may seem like an odd question considering the answer you just gave me but did you go to any one-day college camps for football this summer?

“No I didn’t because I committed in January. So nobody really had interest – actually let me take that back. Alabama and LSU wanted me to come down for a one-day camp. That is when I decided to close my recruiting and just go with baseball because I have more of a passion for baseball than football. I can see myself in baseball more than football in the long run.”

Interesting. Not too many guys tell Alabama and LSU thanks but no thanks.

“Yeah that’s true. As much as I hated to say no to those guys – I told them I’m probably the only guy to say no to you but baseball is just something that I want to do.”

I like that. You have to follow your heart. Keeping with baseball, what type of pitcher are you on the mound?

“I’m a starter. I come out with a 3-4 sidearm delivery. I my fastball tops out at about 92-93 (mph). I throw a curveball, change up, slider, a 2-seam, and a 4-seam. When my arm is in shape I can go a full game. If the coach needs me to throw two innings, I can throw two innings. I’m the type of guy that can do whatever is needed.”

What was your record last year?

“11-0.”

What was your ERA?

“1.38.”

What was your strikeout to walk ratio?

“I had like 66 strikeouts and 14 walks.”

What was it about Kansas State that drew you to commit to them?

“Honestly I’ve been a fan of Kansas State my whole life. I’ve grown up watching them in every sport, not just in baseball. My brother (Larry) went to K-State. He is the only person in my family to get a college degree. It’s been a dream for me to go to Kansas State to wear that purple. When they offered me I was like I have to do this because this is something I’ve wanted to do it since I was a little kid. I just felt the calling. I talked to the people in my life and that led me to the place where I said “yeah, I need to do this.”

What other programs in baseball have extended offers to you?

“Wichita State, that was my first offer, OU (Oklahoma), Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech – they offered me a dual scholarship for baseball and football, Arkansas State, and TCU was in there. Vanderbilt was talking to me but never closed the deal on the offer. Arkansas came in late but I had already committed to K-State by the time they offered.”

Is there a pitcher in Major League Baseball that you like to watch to see how he goes through a game and commands the mound and the plate?

“Michael Wacha (St. Louis Cardinals). I try to model my wide up the way he does. I try to work on my velocity to deliver like he does.”

Do you know what you to major in at Kansas State?

“Yeah, I’m going to major in Kinesiology.”

Here’s another tough question for you regarding your future options. Baseball is obviously different with how MLB can draft guys out of high school. Have you give much thought to what happens if you are a high draft pick in the 2016 MLB Draft? Is this an option you are considering depending on how you get drafted and what the team might be offering?

“Yes sir. That is an option for me. It depends on when I get drafted and how much money they are offering. That would also be a dream come true for me. Hopefully that is an option for me but until that day comes I’ll just have to wait and see.”

Are there a couple of MLB teams that have been scouting you already?

“Chicago White Sox, the Royals, the Cardinals, the Reds, the Rangers, the Marlins, and the Blue Jays and I think that’s close to it.”

There for a second I thought you were about to list off all the MLB teams.

“(Laughs) That would be pretty cool.”

It’s very exciting. I’m sure more will start to come around when baseball is in season and the draft is getting closer. The winding road back to football, so far, what has been your favorite part about playing football?

“My favorite part about playing football so far, definitely the program that I play for. I can’t picture myself playing for anyone else. The whole program has been awesome. I don’t think people understand what football means to people in Bentonville unless you live here. Everyone comes out on Friday nights, 7,000 people are screaming at the top of their lungs and it is just a great feeling. When we go to away games it is not as loud as our home games. We’re used to loud and pressure. That’s my favorite part about playing football. The people here expect success and we want it too.”

Kasey, thanks for your time today. Good luck the rest of the way.

“Thank you.”

 

Photo credit: Kasey Ford; Kasey at Kansas State

Photo credit: thesportsseer.com; No. 15 Kasey Ford

Photo credit: hsgamecenter.com; No. 15 Kasey Ford