Ron LaForce
Safety
New Mexico State
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Ron LaForce: I am 5’11 and 192 right now. I should be 195 pounds at my pro day on March 12th. My lowest forty time has been a 4.48 during training.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Ron LaForce: In Atlanta, Georgia at Dash Sports.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall experience at the College Gridiron Showcase.
Ron LaForce: It was a great experience. It was more of a practice setting. We focused on individual drills. We had a lot of one on one’s.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest thing that you will take away from that all-star game?
Ron LaForce: I was impressed with the talent level. A lot of guys were good. Getting a chance to play at a high level. It was great to see that you belong.
Alex Khvatov: Tell me about the Tropical Bowl all-star game.
Ron LaForce: It was a pretty cool experience. I met a lot of different guys. It was a different setting. We were preparing for an actual game. Practices were run different than at CGS.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Ron LaForce: I wasn’t highly recruited out of Mobile, Alabama. Our school didn’t win a lot of games. I had some D-II looks. I also had some DI-AA. I chose to go to a JUCO in CA. I wanted to fulfill that D-I dream. I went to College of the Sequoias near Fresno, CA. A friend of mine that went to my high school was there. He was a year older than me. He brought me out there. I have never been out of Alabama.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose New Mexico State?
Ron LaForce: I did well at JUCO. I was an all-conference guy my first year. I was an All-American my second year. New Mexico State and South Alabama showed interest. The same friend that was at JUCO with me went to New Mexico State. He had great success there. I followed him there again.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Ron LaForce: I am a relentless football player and ferocious tackler. I am a great open field tackler. My cover skills are good. I bring energy and I am a great locker room guy.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Ron LaForce: Work on coverage skills and man to man. I need to put on more weight. Teams wanted me to put on more weight, so I can hold up against bigger TE’s and backs. I was 180 pounds during the season. I am 192 now.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career to us.
Ron LaForce: I didn’t play in the first game against Arizona State my junior year. But they threw me in there during my second game. I had two INT’s my first game. I was named Sun Belt newcomer of the year. I also made the all-conference team. I had 104 tackles, three INT’s and eight PBU’s. We won a bolw game that year. We beat Utah State. It was our first bowl win in 60 years at the school. During my senior year, I got all-conference again. I had 122 tackles and a few pass break ups. I was No. 5 in the country in tackles.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Ron LaForce: The first year when I got to New Mexico State, we became bowl eligible. The fan base got behind us. The fans rushed the field when we won the last game of the season and became bowl eligible. They were crying and hugging me. We won the bowl game in OT in dramatic fashion. The fans rushed the field in that bowl game.
Alex Khvatov: What is your biggest accomplishment in college that you are most proud of?
Ron LaForce: Being named Sun Belt newcomer of the year my junior season. It was an honor being recognized in the conference.
Alex Khvatov: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Ron LaForce: Success doesn’t come from being good. You have to work hard every day. It is the little things every day in practice. You work for what you want, and success will come.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Ron LaForce: The New Orleans Saints. They are only two hours away from Mobile, Alabama.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Ron LaForce: I like a lot of players. I try to study their games. Ed Redd is my all-time favorite player. He got to the Hall of Fame this year. Eric Weddle is an undersized player who came from a small school. We have some similarities.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a DB?
Ron LaForce: Being able to cover. It is a passing league today. You have to be quick in coverage and stay with fast receivers. Tavon Young just became the highest paid nickel corner in the league. He made a lot of plays on the ball. You have to stick with receivers and make plays on the ball.
Alex Khvatov: Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the offense?
Ron LaForce: I am looking at the different signals that the QB is giving out. He is giving signals to O-linemen, the back or WR’s. He could be calling out hot routes. I am looking whether it is run or pass. I am trying to figure out what receivers are doing. They have an idea, but I am trying to figure out which route they will run.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Ron LaForce: #10 DE Cedric Wilcots should shoot up draft boards. He is a speed demon off the edge. He needs to put on more weight. He is a monster at DE. CB Ray Buford came out of JUCO. He was a boundary corner last year. He will play outside corner this year. He is a long corner.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the toughest player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Ron LaForce: Dax Raymond from Utah State. He is a fast and athletic TE. He is a pretty good player.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Ron LaForce: The physical aspect of it. I love hitting people as a safety. With all of the rule changes, concussions are down 20%. But I am more of an old school safety.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
Ron LaForce: It is a team full of leaders on every NFL team. It is the one guy that knows how to speak up. Getting to work every day, performing on the field and leading by example. You have to be that rock on the field.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Ron LaForce: Fishing in Alabama and duck hunting.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Ron LaForce: I want to get into coaching in high school.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Ron LaForce: Trustworthy, faith, hardworking, gritty and relentless.
