Utah backup QB Byrd Ficklin's Oklahoma upbringing shaped his patience, family says
Ficklin led Muskogee High to its first state title in more than 30 years in 2023 before arriving at Utah as a backup quarterback.
Based on reporting by The Salt Lake Tribune. Read the original story →
Utah quarterback Byrd Ficklin, a backup waiting for his chance to take over the offense, grew up splitting time between his father's home and his mother's cattle ranch in Oklahoma, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. [1]
His mother, Brandy Ridley, told the Tribune he rode a horse named Clutch, helped bottle-feed a calf and brought friends to the ranch after high school games. "We've always been really big on letting Byrd go and be a kid," she said. [1]
Ficklin became the varsity starting quarterback at Muskogee High as a freshman, the Tribune reported. Then-head coach Travis Hill said he "didn't want to start a freshman" but called Ficklin "our best choice from a quarterback standpoint." The Roughers went 2-8 that year, 10-3 the next and 12-2 with a state championship after that. [1]
In 2023, Ficklin helped Muskogee win its first state title in more than 30 years, according to the Tribune. His father, Justin Ficklin, said the community "finally realized that we had something special that was happening here." The article says Ficklin drew attention from programs across the country but received no offers from Power Four teams. [1]
Sources
This story was written by AI from the report by The Salt Lake Tribune, which has the full story. How we write stories.