Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540433
1 8 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Alonzo Ford Jr. hasn't had it easy since transferring from Old Dominion to Penn State in 2023. The defensive tackle from Richmond, Va., started 25 games and earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference honors during his two sea- sons with the Monarchs, but his hopes of proving himself at college football's highest level quickly went awry in State College. Ford's PSU debut was delayed by a year due to an injury he sustained in his first offseason as a Nittany Lion. Then, after appearing in the team's first 11 games last fall as part of the defensive tackle rotation, he went down with a season-ending in- jury in Penn State's clash with Minnesota. In the face of those setbacks, the 6-foot-2, 304-pounder has shown re- markable resilience. Now a super senior, he's back in action this fall and has teamed up with All-Big Ten senior Zane Durant to fortify the middle of PSU's de- fensive front. Through the Nittany Lions' first six games, Ford had to- taled 7 tackles, and he had an inter- ception in the win against FIU. Ford recently spoke to reporters about his road back, and he also weighed in on the impact of some other key members of Penn State's defensive line. QUESTION: How did it feel to be back out there on opening day considering everything that hap- pened last year? FORD: "For me personally, it felt amazing to finally be back out there on the field, back in Beaver Sta- dium. And as far as the game went, I did pretty good. There are always things to clean up and work on, but just getting back into it, getting into the feel of a game again, that was really good for me." QUESTION: This is the second time you've had to come back from a long-term injury. Was your pro- cess different this time? Did your mentality change? FORD: "The process doesn't re- ally change. You've just got to get in the building and do what you need to do to get back. Mentally, though, I'd say this one was a bit easier on me because I had done it before. So, just do what you've already done. You know what you've got to do and just be ready to get back into the flow of everything." QUESTION: Can you talk a little bit about the influence that Zane Durant has had on you? And what does he mean not just for the defense, but for the whole team? FORD: "Zane has been a big influence this offseason, just helping me get ready for the season, get back in that mindset of being a starter again — just everyday preparation in the weight room, running and things like that. "And as far as the whole team goes, we elected him a captain for a reason. He helps motivate the team, helps keep the energy high in the locker room. He's a big energy guy, a guy who really helps mo- tivate everybody around him and helps uplift the whole team." QUESTION: When you talk about Zane being a leader and motivating the team, what does that look like? How does he go about doing that? FORD: "Have you met Zane? When he's around the guys, he's very high- spirited. This summer, we did a lot of cookouts — me, him, [linebacker] Da- Kaari Nelson. We were cooking ribs on the grill, inviting the team out and really connecting and learning what motivates our teammates. He's done a good job of taking that and being able to apply it when we're on the field. He just gets people in the right mindset when we're out there." QUESTION: Was Zane's interception against Nevada the craziest thing you've seen him do, or is there something else that he's done athletically, ei- ther in practice or a game, that just kind of wowed you athletically? FORD: "Oh, shoot, probably that interception. Also, I don't know if you guys saw it versus Notre Dame [in last season's College Football Playoff semifinal], but we were trying to block a field goal and he completely jumped over one of the O-linemen. That was a pretty sick thing for a big guy to be doing, get- ting that high up in the air." QUESTION: We had heard a lot about Chaz Coleman before the start of the season. Watching him get his first action at that defensive end spot, what's stood out to you about his performance on the field? FORD: "Honestly, it's just him being a true freshman and going into Beaver Stadium with all those fans and being able to do his job ef- ficiently and not have a brain fart, not go out there and freeze up as a young freshman in front of 107,000 people. It's a big thing to do. "And then his athletic ability speaks for itself. He's an athlete, so he's going to go out there and do what he does." Sitting Down With Senior Defensive Tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. Ford is back in action for the Nittany Lions this year after missing the final five games of the 2024 season with an injury. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL