Illinois tight end Luke Ford received some laughs on Thursday when asked where he learned his physical style of play on the football field. An Adam Sandler movie from the 1990s was his point of reference.

Speaking with the media on Thursday, Ford told reporters “I think I watched The Waterboy, that’s where I got that style of play from.” If you’ve ever watched the movie, you know that likening his play to Bobby Boucher isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Everybody would love to see Ford open a can of whup….well, nevermind.

Ford is a former 4-star tight end who originally committed to Georgia, where he spent one season at the college level. He transferred out of Athens to be closer to his family, eventually finding a home with the Fighting Illini. After sitting out the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Ford will finally be able to take the field this season.

During his lone season with the Bulldogs, Ford played in 9 games, catching 1 pass for 4 yards. He’ll be part of an extremely talented tight end room that includes Daniel Barker and Daniel Imatorbhebhe this season — which should be a real strength for the Illini.