This offseason was loaded with impactful transfer portal moves across college football specifically at the quarterback position. But one of the most fascinating was former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward‘s decision to join the Miami Hurricanes ahead of the 2024 season.
Ward is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football joining one of the biggest brand names in collegiate athletics that’s desperate to return to their glory days. And Tuesday during Andy Staples On3,Reese’s Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy assessed Ward and his fit with the Hurricanes’ offense.
“Yeah it was a little bit of a tough eval to be honest with just with the apples to oranges nature of the offense and not asking him to do a lot of things he’s gonna have to do it at the NFL level,” Nagy said. “So I think it made sense.”
“I hate it for Washington State, we’ve had Gardner Minshew and a couple other good quarterbacks come out of that school. But for Cam it did make for a tough eval.”
Washington State wound up being a victim of the Pac-12 Conference’s implosion, and with Ward having the opportunity to enter the 2024 NFL Draft or return to college football for one final season, he chose the Hurricanes over several other suitors.
Between his two seasons Incarnate Word and Washington State apiece, Ward has thrown for a whopping 13,874 yards and 119 touchdowns. But Nagy believes that Ward’s ability with his legs is what separates him despite having a lack of clarity on him due to his previous offensive scheme.
“The thing that you did see and you immediately like is his ability to extend plays. I mean he’s got a little magic to him, he’s a fun guy to watch run around. And then connected with Shannon Dawson, the OC down at Miami. I hit up he and Mario Cristobal the other day and just asked how that transition is going with him,” Nagy revealed. “First of all, they love coaching the guy. But his ability to like see windows on the move and throw accurately on the move, that’s the most important thing right?”
Ward rushed for a career-high 144 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground last season. But poses even more of a threat as a passer who’s hard to get a hold of and makes defensive backs cover pass catchers for longer than they’d like.
That paired with the numerous new additions to Miami’s offense could mean good news for the Hurricanes as they look to re-energize the program and return to their championship success from the early 2000s.
“Guys that can move around and extend plays, a lot of times those guys are looking to run. I mean this guy can see things downfield and and put the ball where he needs to put it. So I’m excited to see him,” Nagy said. “They’ve got a big-time running back transferring from Oregon State (Damien Martinez) as well so that should be a fun offense.”
Fans will get their first glance at the new-look Hurricanes on August 31 as they open up the season with an electric matchup at Florida at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
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