UCLA Football: Ex-USC Transfer Gearing Up For Rivalry Week Vs Old Team

As your UCLA Bruins enter the final stretch of the 2023 NCAA season with a 6-4 record, Saturday's upcoming clash against their arch rival USC Trojans (7-3) takes center stage. While the records suggest just another game, players will be ready to go as pride, bragging rights, and revenge are on the line. That's right, revenge is on the line, at least for former USC Trojan wide receiver Kyle Ford. 

This Saturday's showdown at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum carries a special significance for Ford. The former USC Trojan is gearing up to face his old squad for the first time. Senior receiver Josiah Norwood shed light on Ford's mindset, emphasizing his eagerness to go up against USC.

"Kyle is a really competitive guy, I mean he had some time over there, and now he's with us. I think that it's going to be really fun for him to play them just because he knows so many guys I think. There's so much more competitive nature when you play guys you know, makes you play a little harder at times and I think I sense that on K." 

(Per Tracy Pierson of 247Sports)

Before the 2023 season, Ford spent four seasons with the Trojans, contributing significantly with 40 receptions for 637 yards, five touchdowns, and an impressive average of 15.9 yards per reception. Ford played a crucial role last season in USC's 11-3 record. In his current stint with the Bruins, Ford has continued to showcase his prowess, amassing 13 receptions for 152 yards in 2023.

While Ford might not openly admit the added significance of this game, it's evident that facing his former team holds special meaning. The matchup promises to be a compelling spectacle, with Ford likely aiming to leave a mark against the team he once called his own. 

As the Bruins and Trojans prepare for this gridiron battle, the narratives of individual players like Kyle Ford add an intriguing layer to an already storied rivalry.

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