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Cam Ward hasn’t decided whether he’ll throw at the NFL Combine next week, but he knows exactly how he’ll respond to teams questioning his decision to sit out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
“OK, you’re either going to draft me or you’re not,” Ward said Monday night before receiving the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top college quarterback. “If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault. You’ve got to remember you’re the same team that’s got to play me for the rest of my career, and I’ll remember that.”
Ward Defends His Bowl Game Decision
Ward faced criticism after not playing in the second half of Miami’s 42-41 loss to Iowa State in December. Some accused him of quitting, but Ward said the decision was made beforehand by both him and the coaching staff.
“I just think we all got what we needed out of it. They seen things that they think they need to work on … for this season coming up. And they also knew, you know, what I had on the line,” Ward explained. “We feel like we’re doing what’s best for the program and myself. I mean, it was a hard decision, especially when, you know, some guys on our team didn’t play who I thought should have played. It was also, you know, those guys thought about their future the same way I thought about mine.”
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal has defended Ward, calling the idea that he quit “a false narrative.” Ward stands by his decision.
“If I could do it again, I’d do it the same way,” Ward said Monday, though he later added, “I wish we could have ended up winning the game. If we had won the game, they wouldn’t have said nothing. And so, that’s usually how it goes. And you know, you just got to take it on the chin and just keep pushing.”
A Record-Breaking College Career
Before leaving the game, Ward made history. His first touchdown pass in the Pop-Tarts Bowl gave him 156 career touchdowns, breaking the NCAA Division I record previously held by Case Keenum (2007-2011). Ward finished his career with 158 touchdowns, adding to his 18,189 total passing yards—third-most in NCAA history behind Keenum and Dillon Gabriel.
In his lone season at Miami, Ward set school records for passing yards (4,313), completions (305), and touchdown passes (39). His 67.2% career completion rate is also a Miami record.
With Ward opting out of the second half, Miami turned to Emory Williams at quarterback. The Hurricanes have since added former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as a transfer.
Looking Ahead to the NFL
Ward, who could be the first player selected in April’s NFL Draft, hasn’t finalized his plans for the combine but intends to throw at Miami’s pro day.
His Davey O’Brien Award win comes weeks after accepting the Manning Award. He follows 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, who won both awards last year before being drafted No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders and leading them to the NFC Championship Game.
“To see him succeed is motivating,” Ward said of Daniels. “Not just for me, but for all quarterbacks.”
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This report used information from the Associated Press.
