Larry Ford signs with the Pittsburgh Power

Larry Ford was all smiles with the Orlando Predators last season.

   On the eve of Arena League Training Camps, Mountaineer DE Larry Ford signed with the Pittsburgh Power. He finished last season as a member of the Orlando Predators of the AFL. He worked his way up to that team after have a huge season for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the PIFL.

   Over the three years I have written for WVUPros, Ford's journey from playing in the Gold n' Blue to Pittsburgh has been one of my favorite to follow. He's had ups and downs. He has spent countless hours on buses riding to and from games. Has garnered interest from the NFL and CFL. He has had to hold a regular job in between seasons to pay the bills, and he has seen how brutal professional sports can be.
   At WVU, Ford was a junior college transfer who played in 26 games from 2008-2010, tallying 10 tackles and .5 sacks. Then DL-coach Bill Kirelwich shuffled Ford across every position on an already very talented defensive line that featured the likes of Scooter Berry, Julian Miller, Chris Neild, Johnny Dingle, Jorge Wright.
   But through it all, Ford has kept a positive attitude. Nothing is going to hold him back. At 6'3", 255 pounds, Ford possesses a high level of athleticism. He knows what he is capable of doing and what he needs to work on to get better. In his first stop with the Florida Tarpons of the UIFL, Ford put together a highlight film that caught the attention of scouts in no less than four bigger leagues.
   Now, two years later, he finds himself with a chance to play professionally on a large stage with the Pittsburgh Power.
   "I'm going into camp to earn a roster spot and a starting job," Ford said. He knows what is in front of him when he reports to camp on Wednesday. "There's nothing guaranteed, so I have to earn it."
    After traveling all over North America in the last two years, Ford is happy to know where he's going to call "home" over the next several months, and he's glad he's in close proximity to Morgantown.
   "The good thing is, a lot of fans and friends can come and see me play," he said. On knowing his next destination: "Yeah, finally. I can breath a big sigh of relief"