In the Huddle: Purdue offensive lineman Ben Farrell

Ben Farrell was content playing college golf, knowing one of his ambitions was to become a club professional after his athletic career ended. But Farrell’s journey took a sudden turn three years ago transferring to Indiana Wesleyan, an NAIA start-up program, to resume his football career.

Before arriving at Purdue, Ferrell – a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman – played golf at Cornerstone University, an NAIA program in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has played against some of the Big Ten’s best defensive linemen this season.

Should I start by asking about your football or golf career?

In the timeline, golf started first. Either way.

How did golf start?

In high school, I played all four years. Out of high school, I was a lot smaller than I am now. I really got recruited for football, but my high school coach’s son was hired as the head golf coach at Cornerstone University, which is right across the street from my high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My dad worked there as well. I didn’t get a chance to go anywhere for football right away. I knew the new head coach at Cornerstone, and my dad worked there and I got free tuition and wanted to keep swinging the sticks.

At what age did you start playing golf?

I think seventh grade was my start year. Sixth grade was my final season of baseball, and I wasn’t good at it. I switched it up.

Were you good at golf?

I was pretty decent, better than a good amount of people. To be honest, the best I’ve ever been was last summer after I finished playing college golf. I had an internship at Rock Hollow Golf Club. That was the peak of my playing ability, that’s for sure.

Was there a time when you played golf and football?

Not at the same time. IWU wouldn’t let me. We had spring football, and you can’t earn your way into the team while taking trips and going to play golf.

Do you feel you took your golf career as far as it could go from a collegiate competitive standpoint?

Yeah, probably. I’m more of a leisure golfer and go out and play with the guys and go out to eat. If I really put in the time to grind it out and hours and hours on the range and stuff like that, I’m not that locked in. I just want to have fun with my friends.

How did you balance the two as you got bigger and playing golf? We don’t see guys of your stature playing golf a whole lot.

In college, all the free time I had, I went out to the course. It’s an easy way for me to get my mind off of football and relax a little bit. That’s a big thing for me. When I didn’t have football – and there were quite a few guys at Indiana Wesleyan I golfed with. When we finished summer practice, and it’s 5 o’clock, we go and get a little twilight round in.

Hole-in-one?

I wouldn’t count it. There’s a resort in Northern Michigan in Oscoda. I went up there with my cousin and they had a little mini par 3 course. We stood out there and hit ball after ball. Not a true hole-in-one.

What is one thing people don’t know about you?

The golf thing is usually my answer. I always say I played golf and football in college. Other than the golf thing, I’m a big outdoors guy. I like hanging out with my friends.

Any superstitions, football or golf-related?

Not really. In football, I always try to put on the left knee brace, right knee brace, left cleat, right cleat, left ankle brace, right ankle brace. But nothing super out of the ordinary or anything like that.

What about golf?

I wouldn’t say a superstition. I always have a specific ball marker that I carry with me. Nothing routine-wise or anything like that.

Longest drive?

Recorded, 331 yards. Good bounce downwind helped me out a little bit.

What’s your handicap?

I’ve never officially entered my scores on the official website. I’d say last summer, it was 5, 6 somewhere in there.

Have you played the courses here?

Played both Kampen and Ackerman. I played Coyote. I think they’re all beautiful courses. I had fun playing all of them. They’re a bit better quality than some of the other courses I’ve played.

If you weren’t involved in sports, what would you be doing?

My uncle owns a masonry and concrete business back home. Maybe pouring concrete or doing landscaping with my buddy.

Once you’re done playing football, what’s your job?

Ideally, I want to become a golf pro at a golf course. If it’s not that, some sort of blue-collar work.

From a football standpoint, how do you get ready for a game? Do you have a routine?

I definitely have a routine. It’s a little different than playing at an NAIA program. We have a full team meal and things like that. The main thing through my routine is I like different stages of music. When we’re walking into the facility, I listen to country, and not to let myself get worked up, I listen to opera in the locker room. Specifically, I’m a big Bocelli guy. Just sit in the locker room and chill out and listen to that. Once it’s time to get ready, I listen to rock and start getting my blood pumping and I’m ready to go.

Have you ever been to the opera?

I have not, but I would go. I have to figure out how to do that.

What got you hooked on opera?

I don’t really know. My friend, Mike, is a big music guy. We share music back and forth and the different high notes and harmonies calm me down. I stuck with it.

Throughout this experience at Wesleyan and now at Purdue, what have you learned about yourself and your capabilities?

A few years ago, I never imagined being able to play at a level like this. Just the power of hard work and never underestimate your abilities and just keep working. If it can happen for me, it can happen for other people.

Has it been satisfying to do what you’ve done – playing golf and football and coming here to a Big Ten university? Has it been a satisfying journey?

It feels good to know that all the time I spent working, the dark times where you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, being out here and being able to play at the highest-level collegiality, it’s really satisfying. It’s satisfying in the aspect of my family coming along on the ride and enjoying the experiences as much as me.

What did you think would happen when you put your name in the portal?

Honestly, I didn’t know. I was all-conference in NAIA and maybe a bigger school would hit me, maybe a MAC school, and there’s a Big Ten school and I was like, ‘Wow.’ I did not expect it at all. They gave me the opportunity and I’m thankful for it.

How long have you had your beard?

Full grown, probably since the fall of ’21 was the first season I had it grown out, looking pretty solid.

How long will you keep it?

I’ll keep it for a while. That’s definitely my look. I think I look better with it than without it, that’s for sure.