Lonnie Ford, a former standout defensive end for the Trojans, is creating a legacy with the Avengers of the Arena Football League
By Ben Malcolmson USCRipsIt PeteCarroll.com
Admittedly, Lonnie Ford didn’t expect this.
But it couldn’t have turned out much better than it has.
The former USC defensive lineman of the year and All-Pac-10 player has become a legend of sorts as a member of the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League, setting records and becoming the mainstay of his team’s high-powered offense.
It’s not the NFL, but for him, it might just have ended up better.
“When you’re at ’SC, everybody thinks they’re going to the League just because of the tradition and everything,” said the 29-year-old Ford, who played for the Trojans from 1997 to 2001. “But I’m happy here, definitely. Things happen for a reason.”
In 2001, Ford went from the Las Vegas Bowl with USC to an undrafted free agent in the NFL to the Avengers in the span of a year, and he’s now in his sixth season as L.A.’s fullback. It’s a role the team heavily relies on to fuel its high-scoring offense.
“Lonnie’s one of the biggest parts of our offense,” Avengers quarterback Sonny Cumbie said. “He’s definitely the unsung hero of this offense and of this team.”
Somewhat similar to the outdoor game, the main responsibilities of the Arena League fullback include pass protection and short-yardage rushing, though it’s much more of the former in the passing-dominated game.
After playing tight end and defensive end at USC, Ford has excelled at his position on the Avengers. He holds several all-time team records and also became the first player in AFL history to rush for 168 yards or more in three consecutive seasons.
“We feel like he’s developed into one of the best, if not the best, fullbacks in the game,” Avengers head coach Ed Hodgkiss said.
“He’s a tremendous asset and he means so much to this team on and off the field,” Cumbie said.
While in his senior year with the Trojans, it was more of the same for Ford, just at a different position. In 2001, he was named to the All-Pac-10 second team defense, was selected as USC’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award and was given the Player of the Game against Notre Dame honor (eight tackles, three for losses, one sack and a forced fumble).
“He’s was our first true pass-rusher, with great speed and size,” Coach Pete Carroll, who was at the helm for Ford’s final year at USC. “He’s was a just an awesome all-around athlete that season.”
But it wasn’t always that way. For the most part, Ford struggled in his first four seasons at USC, and he even switched from tight end to defensive line in 1999 following two years of toiling on depth chart.
Carroll was hired before his senior season, and that’s when, Ford said, his career turned around — so much so that the upswing continues today.
“My junior year, I didn’t play a lot, and [Carroll] said to me, ‘What’s going on? Why didn’t you play that much?’” Ford recalled. “He took me from being an average player in college to being a Pac-10 player that year — instantly — by him motivating me and telling me what I needed to do at my position. I wish I had him earlier in my career, I might be in a different situation right now.”
But Ford said he was thankful for the one season he did have with Carroll, because it has propelled him in part to the successes he’s reaped in the AFL. Ford also praised the efforts of Ed Orgeron, who coached defensive line during Ford’s senior year and whose impact has stayed with Ford throughout his career of playing one of the most difficult positions in football.
“My position is a man-up position — I’m standing there and the guy coming in gets a five-yard head-start on me, he’s coming to hit me,” Ford said of playing the blocking fullback. “It’s a head-on collision every play. But I’ve been doing that for a long time. With Coach O, it was a different ballgame, it’s always a man-up position.
“So this is easy. I’m just not going to let this dude run me over. I welcome the challenge all the time.”
Avengers offensive line and fullback coach Bill Dobson praised Ford’s toughness — he’s missed only five games in five-plus seasons with L.A. — and his experience make him indispensable to the team.
“It’s a physically violent position, so you have to have some mental toughness in addition to the skill sets in order to play there,” said Dobson, who’s coached Ford since his rookie season. “The fact that we have him as a veteran at that position is invaluable. He knows what it takes to be successful, and you can’t ever put a price on that.”
New substitution rules instituted this season in the AFL allow for fewer two-way players, so Ford will be focusing on offense instead of playing linebacker as well. Hodgkiss said he has already noticed an improvement in Ford’s game, and Ford’s definitely a fan of the new rule.
“For me, it’s easier, because I get to score touchdowns,” Ford said while laughing. “So I’m not complaining.”
Though he’s six years removed from USC, Ford said he still feels connected. He stays in touch with several former teammates, and he raved about the string of NFL defensive linemen who followed him at USC — Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson, Kenechi Udeze and many more.
His ties to the Trojans are even lived out on the Avengers practice field. Former UCLA linebacker Justin Hickman is in his rookie season with L.A., and Ford makes sure Hickman knows who’s in charge.
“As long as he understands that I always had good games against UCLA — I used to live in their backfield — we’re cool,” Ford said with a huge smile.
And does Hickman recognize that?
“Yeah, he understands that,” Ford said chuckling.
Ford sure is loving life in the Arena League, where he’s leaving his mark on opponents, setting records and helping drive his team to victory.
“It worked out best for me,” Ford said. “I can’t imagine playing anywhere else.”
The Avengers host the Philadelphia Soul on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Staples Center. For tickets, click here.
• Ben Malcolmson is the Director of Online Media for USCRipsIt/PeteCarroll.com. You can contact him at Ben@PeteCarroll.com.
