![[Original size] DJ's Sports Show.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/75856f_7f4ffe7f83c14d209a701ef21c02c17d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_120,h_120,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5BOriginal%20size%5D%20DJ's%20Sports%20Show.png)
The 2024/2025 collegiate football season has been exciting and full of surprises left and right. Only one team remains undefeated in the Ap-Top 25 poll: #1 ranked Oregon. Teams like Texas and Ohio State, ranked in the top 5 within the preseason AP Top 25, have each suffered at least one loss. Teams like Michigan, Florida State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, North Carolina State, and Iowa have dropped out of the top 25 altogether.
One team that has enjoyed a tremendous resurgence is the University of Miami Hurricanes football team, who have much to be optimistic about despite recently suffering their first season loss, 28-23, two weeks ago vs. the sneakily competitive Georgia Tech and their potent rushing attack. While a far cry from their early 2000s reign of terror, at now 10-1 after at one point being one of five remaining teams in the top 25 to be undefeated, they are having their best season since 2017. They are off to their best start since the 2002 season when they last appeared in a National Championship. Offensively, they have been torturing defenses every single game.
They are ranked 1st in scoring at 45 points per game, 5th in Quarterback rating at 175.0, and 48th in rushing yards at 176.6 yards per game. There is an embarrassment of riches in the offensive arsenal, from the two-headed running back duo of junior running-back Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. (who are both explosive runners that can catch out the backfield) to arguably the best and most explosive receiver quartet in the nation of (the now all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions record breaker and Biletnikoff Award hopeful) 5th-year senior wide receiver Xavier Restrepo (5'10), breakout redshirt sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Horton (6'4), senior wide receiver Jacolby George (6'0), and 5th-year redshirt junior wide receiver Sam Brown Jr. (6'2).
There hasn’t been a deeper receiver core since perhaps, Alabama in 2019 with DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs, and John Metchie II. Each receiver at Miami would be most schools' #1 WR, capable of quickly garnering over 100 yards every game. When you add Redshirt Junior (Mackey Award hopeful) tight end Elijah Arroyo to the conversation, it's no shock why Miami has been lauded for having the best skill positions in the land. Yet every great battalion needs a great lieutenant general to lead and command the unit into battle.
Miami's success this year could largely be attributed to the stellar play of Heisman Trophy hopeful senior transfer quarterback Cam Ward. Through 11 games, Ward has completed 268-399 passing yards and thrown for a second in the nation 3,774 passing yards and a nation-leading 34 passing touchdowns, including two games apiece with five passing touchdowns (vs. Ball State 9/14 and Duke 11/2), two games apiece with four passing touchdowns vs. Virginia Tech 9/27 and Louisville 10/19), and four games with three passing touchdowns (vs. Florida 8/31, vs. Florida A&M 9/7, vs. USF 9/21, and Georgia Tech 11/9).
He's 24th in the nation in passing accuracy at a 67.2% completion percentage while throwing an uber-efficient seven interceptions. He broke the single-season school record for passing touchdowns and broke the passing yard record this past Saturday from 30 seasons ago by Bernie Kosar in the 1984 season.
Ward is no stranger to breaking records. The Texas native began his collegiate career at the University of the Incarnate Word, where he was a record breaker at the FCS level, accumulating 74 total touchdowns (71 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns to only 14 interceptions) and 6,908 passing yards. As a sophomore, he won the Jerry Rice Award for Most Outstanding Freshman of the NCAA Division 1 FCS and the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year after throwing 47 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and 4,648 passing yards.
He parlayed this success into transferring to Washington State in 2022, where he was immediately named a starter for the ensuing season. At Washington State, Ward began to make a name for himself nationally. Winning the starting job during the spring practices in his first season for the Cougars, Ward completed 320 passes on 497 attempts for a 64.4 completion percentage and 3,231 yards through the air, tossing 23 passing touchdowns to nine interceptions with five rushing touchdowns on the ground.
In his second season, he improved in every single statistic category. He threw for 25 passing touchdowns to only seven interceptions and scored a career-high eight rushing touchdowns on the ground. Though Washington State only went 7-6 and 5-7 with Ward under center, he cemented himself as not only one of the best quarterbacks in the now defunct Pac-12.
Especially last year, when the conference was dominated by the play of the #1 pick of USC Caleb Williams, #8 pick of Washington Michael Penix Jr., and #12th pick of Oregon Bo Nix all of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ward still received a large amount of attention and even some late first round consideration from some draft scouts.
He initially declared for the draft but decided to use his remaining eligibility and transfer to a more prominent program to improve his draft stock. Truly embodying the principle of being a student-athlete, he made sure he graduated early for December commencement. He entered the transfer portal and found his way back South to greener pastures in Dade County Miami to become the 40th starting quarterback in University of Miami history.
Talk about betting on yourself; Ward has changed the trajectory of his pro career prospects, going from a projected late day 1 early day 2 projected selection to projections as high as the 1st overall pick in this upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Now, fresh off the Hurricane's first loss, why would I STILL be so high on Ward? Well, as the great Jay-Z once famously rapped in "Reminder" off The Blueprint 3 album released in 2009, "Men lie, women lie, numbers don't." The numbers accumulated so far in this 2024 season support Ward being the best quarterback in the nation. The eye test tells the whole story.
When you watch Ward operate in the pocket, the first thing many notice is his unwavering confidence and poise. This can come across as nonchalant/arrogant to casual-eye viewers, but it's quite the opposite. Ward is incredibly cerebral and mature beyond his years, and he isn't one to crumble under pressure. Ward was overlooked in his high school career recruitment process because he played in a wing T-Flexbone option offense where he only averaged 12 pass attempts a game.
He's an obsessively competitive athlete and football player dedicated to refining his game, and it has shown year in and year out throughout his collegiate career. For a struggling NFL franchise drafting high, a franchise quarterback is expected to be battle-tested and able to adapt to the rigors of the professional game as quickly as possible; Ward seems more than capable.
Standing a compact 6'2 and 223 pounds, Ward passes the physical eye test of what NFL teams today seek in a blue chip quarterback prospect and plays with an undeniable "dawg" mentality that can't be fabricated nor easily taught. Ward can dish and take the punishment from the most physical of defensive lines, which provides an immense competitive edge for him in the pocket. He possesses a solid right arm that can carve the best of pass coverage defenses at every spot of the field.
Statistically, he's the best deep ball passer in the nation. He's currently averaging 15.6 YPA with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions on passes thrown 20+ yards. When watching him fire throws out a clean pocket over the middle or deep down the field, especially in the seam in the bucket of the pass-catcher arm, you can see Ward's multisport athletic pedigree on full display. Ward played multiple positions in baseball as a shortstop, pitcher, and third base and briefly even threw discus in track and field.
The way he fires the ball showcases not only his pure arm strength but the combination of touch, delivery, and finesse he possesses in each throw based on the coverage. Ward also admitted in this interview (Canes Insight) that he incorporates what he learned in baseball and track & field in his foundational fundamentals as a pass thrower. This is displayed with an emphasis on velocity, balance, and technique.
In this interview, he also shared how the skills he learned in golf were akin to the ones he originally learned in baseball. The instinctual timing and on-field awareness Ward possesses are reflected in his vision and ability to place the ball only where his receiver can make a play on it and out of harm's way. Given the chemistry and cohesion they play with, he had been a multi-year starter at Miami. He predetermines well upon snap, goes through his progressions post-snap patiently with a sense of urgency, and always keeps his eyes down the field for the entirety of the play.
Where Ward seriously unlocks another gear is when the pocket breaks down. Ward was also a very talented basketball player in high school, competing against future NBA players like Cade Cunningham and RJ Hampton in the EYBL and Adidas Gauntlet circuits. When watching his old basketball film, you can trace where he gets most of his creative escapability from on the gridiron.
It's like watching some hoops action up at Rucker Park or Dyckman during a hot summer. Ward does his best Rafer's "Skip To My Lou" Alston rendition and has the ball on an absolute string. It physically takes multiple defenders to bring him down. Ward ran his 40 times at 4.87 in high school (he'll likely run faster at the Combine), but his versatile athletic pedigree shows a faster speed in the game. Ward is a running threat you cannot ignore, but he's a passer, first and foremost.
One of his greatest assets is how well he can complete passes at the most intricately tricky positions and in tightly contested windows by using his legs. Akin to the late great Harry Houdini, Ward is a magician with the ball in his hands, and it is genuinely magic to watch him make something out of nothing with how he completes passes at the angles he does.
There is no such thing as a "perfect prospect," especially at the quarterback position, and truth be told, it causes too many unreal expectations to be placed with the guys who get burdened with the tag. Ward's glaring flaws are easily fixable but cannot be ignored either. His greatest gift of unshakeable confidence can sometimes be his greatest detriment.
As with many young, strong-armed quarterbacks, he'll go for the home run and resort to playing hero ball, which results in a potential turnover or holding the ball too long because he doesn't want to take the layup/single/check-down throw. He has admitted to being a gunslinger, which shows how self-aware of who he is as a player. To Ward's credit, he is a very efficient player, but he needs to do a better job taking what the defense gives him. Ball security is a big issue that could cause significant problems at the pro levels, as he has 34 fumbles in his collegiate career, which averages out to nearly seven a season.
One came at the worst possible time, with 1:48 left in the 4th quarter two weekends ago vs. Georgia Tech on their 17-yard line, down by five points. Georgia Tech only sent a three-man rush, but they got tremendous pressure on the inside to force Ward's pocket to collapse, all while their secondary was clamping the receivers, which forced Ward to dance around looking to make a play when he should've gotten rid of it and lived to fight another day. Instead, they suffered their first loss, and it's plays like those that sting forever when rewatching the film.
Still, it's worth noting that Ward put up a blistering stat line, going 25/39 for 348 yards with three passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Some of his other bad habits, such as slightly lackadaisical footwork technique and being too reliant on side arm mechanics with certain throws, are also causes of concern but nothing that can't be fine-tuned and refined in the pros, especially under the tutelage of a good coaching staff. There isn't a more exciting player to watch on film in this 2025 draft outside of the University of Colorado's Travis Hunter, who is the biggest threat to win the Heisman award over Ward, given his rare-prolific ability as both a stud cornerback and stud wide receiver.
When watching and examining Ward's film to find an adequate NFL comparison, plenty of dynamic quarterbacks came to mind that also fit his physical profile and play style to examine his ceiling vs. his floor as a player. Current names like Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Geno Smith come to mind when watching Ward's ball placement from the pocket and his mechanics.
Past names like Steve McNair (RIP), Brett Favre, John Elway, Donovan McNabb, and David Garrard (a name many have forgotten but a player who was significantly ahead of his time) come to mind with Ward's physical profile, arm strength, and overall creative play style. Each ranged from multiple Pro Bowl selections to the Hall of Fame, exactly where Ward's floor and ceiling ranges. Despite this year's quarterback class not attracting the same level of fanfare as last year's quarterback class, there are plenty of talented first-round prospects like the University of Colorado's Shedeur Sanders (he and Ward train together), Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Alabama's Jalen Milroe, and Texas' Quinn Ewers.
Ward's ceiling is by far the highest of any quarterback in this 2025 draft class, with suitors plenty. Ward is an extraordinary prospect. The phrase "big-time players make big-time plays" (which ironically was coined by none other than a fellow University of Miami Hurricane himself, Rohan Marley, son of the legendary Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley, 30 years ago vs. in-state rival Florida State University) could be attributed to the play of Cam Ward even amid a loss.
When asked about the game, Ward told the media, "There are only two outcomes: Either you win, or you lose,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, tomorrow, I’ve gotta wake up, lift, and do the same process. It hurts because it was the first loss of the season, but we’re still in a position to control our destiny. We go into the bye week, get better this week, and try to beat Wake Forest."
Perhaps Ward's a psychic like Cleo and should've placed money on the game because he and the Hurricanes went out and emerged victorious 42-14 over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The game was close most of the way, with only a six-point difference at 20-14, until the Hurricanes began to pull away early in the 3rd quarter thanks to a one-yard rushing touchdown by Ward and a two-point conversion to tight end Elijah Arroyo.
Miami got the ball back thanks to a forced fumble on Wake Forest star junior running-back Demond Claiborne on the ensuing kickoff. With the short field, Ward drove Miami down, and they recorded another rushing touchdown on the ground from stud freshman running back Jordan Lyle, who led the team in rushing during the contest with 115 yards. After Miami stopped Wake Forest on 4th down, Ward and the offense ended any possibility of a comeback thanks to a 61 yard rush by Lyle and a 15 yard passing touchdown on a wide receiver screen play to Jacolby George to win 42-14.
Ward's stat line was the furthest from gaudy, especially with the interception he threw late in the second quarter, but he accounted for three total touchdowns, and his confidence never wavered. He made some NFL quality reads all game long, and the throw that certainly caught most scouts' eyes was at 3:45 in the first quarter when he ripped a bullet throw to George on a deep post route from the seam. Ward and George connected over the middle of the field in the red zone, and George was walloped as he high-pointed and caught the pass for a 34-yard gain.
The drive didn't result in a touchdown. Still, it immediately showed the level of intensity Miami was coming into the game, and Ward was the catalyst responsible for all of this. Big-time players truly do make big-time plays.
If this season has shown us anything, Ward and the Hurricanes will embrace adversity and always bounce back. They are still ranked in the top 12 for the AP Top 25 at 8th and ranked 6th for the College Football Playoffs. They have one remaining regular season game versus (8-3) Syracuse tomorrow, and their senior transfer quarterback, Kyle McCord, currently has a slim 172 passing-yard lead over Ward. Ward was recently snubbed once again from a prestigious award honor, the Maxwell Award for best all-around player, yet in typical Ward fashion, he expressed his 2024 season vision earlier this month:
"My goal is not to be the Heisman Trophy winner. My goal is to win football games and play for a national championship."
If Miami's leaky defense can dominate as well as they did in the second half versus Wake Forest (only allowed 50 yards in the second half) and doesn't ruin it for the ultra-explosive offense, expect Ward and the Hurricanes to raise their first championship banner since 2001. A national championship victory will unequivocally cement Ward's legacy in Miami Dade County lore forever and punch his ticket to be the first name announced in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Commentaires