Jerome Ford had an extra role with the Cincinnati Bearcats entering Friday’s Cotton Bowl matchup with No. 1 Alabama. Ford has been a Bearcat for 2 seasons, transferring from Alabama after 2 seasons in Tuscaloosa.

Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder recently discussed how Ford helped the Bearcats prepare for the Tide.

“You can learn a lot,” Ridder said during a recent media opportunity. “You obviously see what (Alabama) is like physically on film, but you learn a lot from (Ford) more mentally. How they approach the game, how they’re going to come prepared, and (Ford) really just lets you know what the Alabama culture is just so we’re not hit in the face when we get out there and something may be a little different than we think.”

This season, Ford has 200 carries for 1,242 yards and 19 touchdowns plus 18 catches for 209 yards and a TD. We’ll see how Ford fares against his former teammates on Friday.

[H/T On3]