Joey D. Richards

It's rare for true freshmen to get much playing time at the college level, especially at a major college football program. But Cooper graduate Will Ford got extensive playing time in the Texas Tech Red Raiders' 38-13 win over North Dakota in the season opener last week in Lubbock.

Ford, a 6-foot-1, 186-pound safety, is starting in three different packages for the Red Raiders, including both their nickel and dime packages. Ford also plays on punt return.

"It was a very great experience," Ford said after Saturday's opener. "Now that I've got that first game out of the way, I think I'll be able to go through the next game playing without any hesitation and I'll be able to react faster. Nothing's really different. It's just going out and playing football."

Ford had one tackle and broke up a pass. He also almost blocked a punt.

Ford was the District 4-4A defensive player of the year for Cooper last year, and he did admit the game is a little different at the college level.

"Yeah, the game speed's a little bit fast," he said. "But I play at a very high speed. So I fit in really nicely, I think."

Ford was one of three former Abilene ISD athletes playing in the game. Abilene High graduate Taylor Potts is the Red Raiders' starting quarterback, and Lyle Leong, another Abilene High graduate, gets plenty of time as a receiver. Both are juniors.

"It's pretty cool getting to see them on the field," Ford said. "Playing with them on the field is a very great opportunity."

Potts completed 34 of 48 passes for 405 yards and two touchdowns in his debut as a starter. He also threw three interceptions. Leong had four catches for 55 yards.

Another Big Country player -- Stephenville's Cody Davis -- is starting at free safety for the Red Raiders, The redshirt freshman had three solo tackles.

Texas Tech plays Rice at 6 p.m. Saturday in Lubbock.

Henderson, Lee also get playing time

Ford wasn't the only Cooper graduate playing college football as a true freshman last week. Brandon Henderson, a 6-2, 231-pound defensive tackle, got some playing time in Southern Methodist University's 31-23 victory over Stephen F. Austin last week in Dallas. The Mustangs play Alabama-Birmingham at 3 p.m. Saturday in Birmingham.

Demetric Lee, another true freshman from Cooper, had two tackles in Abilene Christian's 58-10 victory over Fort Lewis on Saturday. Lee is a 5-11, 210-pound defensive back. ACU plays Texas A&M-Commerce at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.