The Chattanooga Mocs are finishing spring practice week 4 of 5 in preparation for the 2022 campaign. At the conclusion of each week, GoMocs.com will share a "Friday Focus" feature looking at key areas, stories or whatever the author decides is fun to share.
 
Week 1: O-Line Is in Good Hands
Week 2: Bookend Emerges
Week 3: Academics
 
The question in today's story title can fill volumes. What makes Ailym Ford special? Each person associated with the Mocs football program will likely give you a slightly different answer that is summed up in the exact same premise.
 
Ford is the ultimate team guy.
 
It took more than a year to get him comfortable talking about himself. Any question about his performance immediately fetched a complimentary answer about his stout offensive line, the tight ends & receivers giving him an extra step maintaining their blocks or maybe even the placement of the handoff from the quarterback.
 
It wouldn't be a shock to hear him talk about the performance of the Mocs defense in practice making him better as long as he didn't have to speak about Ailym. Humble? Yes, absolutely. But it was deeper. It was, and still is, a deep appreciation for what all 11 people on the field have to do together to be successful.
 
"I'm just a big teamwork guy," Ford shared. "I love to be part of a team. I love to be a part of a group. Just be a hard-nosed guy that loves the brotherhood of playing together."
 
What is he like to block for?
 
"Well, you know, it's not really hard blocking for him," junior tackle Colin Truett explained while giving the questioner a wry smile and look that screamed I feel like Capt. Obvious. "He's a guy that goes 110 percent at everything. Each and every play, each and every practice rep, each and every rep in the weight room and each and every day taking care of himself in the training room.
 
"He does everything the right way and plays hard…plays physical."
 
Sounds like he plays the position with an offensive lineman's mindset.
 
"I would say so," Truett affirmed. "He's a very physical guy. He's one of those guys who'll beat you with speed, put a move on you or just run right down the middle of you. As a defensive guy, that can't be very fun."
 
It's funny because he's one of the few guys, if not the only one left, not really recruited by Coach Rusty Wright's staff. He was an early period commit to the former staff and kept his commitment to Chattanooga after new head ball coach figured out he was a definite keeper.
 
"When we talked, he had so much confidence in himself," Wright recollected. "Watching his work ethic, the things he did in high school and then making phone calls to guys in that area we knew. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was how much confidence he had in his ability to get things done.
 
"Now, he kind of sets the tone for us in how he practices and goes about things. You know, just be an all-around team player."
 
He already has two of the program's 14 1,000-yard rushing seasons joining Derrick Craine '16, Jacob Huesman '15 and Eldra Buckley '06 as the only Mocs to do it twice. All three of them did it their junior and senior seasons while Ford's came in his first two full campaigns
 
Ford's 2,278 yards are six shy of the top 10 all-time at Chattanooga. He's 1,408 from the running back record held by the great Gwain Durden '80 (3,686) and less than 1,800 short of Huesman's record 4,051 yards. He's also one of 13 with 20 or more career rushing TDs with 20 on the number.
 
So what drives a now grizzled vet like Ford? (Ed. note: grizzled vet is now an inside joke with Ford)
 
"I just know that I need to get better every day. Never be complacent. You're never as good as you think. You go back, watch film, find mistakes and nitpick to make yourself better."
 
That formula has served him well over the start of his career. We can't wait to see where it takes him from here.
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING…
Running Backs Coach Anthony Davis on what makes Ailym special:
"Probably his drive. He has a very unique drive to be great, to be better every day no matter how fine the detail is. And his motor never turns off, it's always on."
 
Ford on what excites him about the 2022 offense:
"We've got a lot of hard-nosed young guys and some older ones mixed in. I feel like we really know the game up front. We can make a lot of plays because we have a good connection. We have good chemistry. I feel like the big part helping teams win is good chemistry."