Cam Ward has taken a long route to the NFL, but he's gotten better at every step. One of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, Ward met with reporters Friday at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and discussed an amazing journey that will continue with him being one of the first picks in April's Draft.
"From playing Wing -T to traveling to Pullman, Washington all the way to Miami," he said. "I just think me having the opportunity to experience different culture changes, different atmospheres, traveling across the country – it's all going to help me in the long run because at the end of the day you never know where football is going to take you and you never know what God has in store for you. So I've just been blessed."
At Columbia (TX) HS, Ward was a three-sport (football, basketball and baseball) star who didn't throw much in high school and started his college trek at Incarnate Ward. He excelled at the small Catholic university in San Antonio, totaling 71 pass TDs and 6,908 yards in 2020-21. Ward then moved to Washington State and started 25 games, throwing for 6,963 yards and 48 TDs and adding 13 scores on the ground. He hit the transfer portal prior to the 2024 campaign and landed at Miami. A consensus NCAA First-Team All-America performer, Ward set school records for passing yards (4,313), TDs (39) and completion percentage (67.2). One of four Heisman Trophy finalists, Ward was named winner of the 2024 Dave O' Brien Award, which recognizes the nation's top quarterback.
"I think my best trait is winning from the pocket and I got better at that over my years in college," Ward said. "At the end of the day, as a quarterback, you can't rely on scramble drills and having to win out of structure because if you can't win the pocket – you're never going to be successful."
While Ward (6-2, 223) has impressive physical traits, he believes it's his mentality that makes him unique.
"The tape says everything I believe and I'm honest with that," he said. "My thing that I think that separates me from everybody is the way I approach it, the mindset that I have going to the field each and every game and coming from my journey. Not a lot of people can do that. So, I just have to show the work that I'm willing to put in whether I go in the first round or second round. At the end of the day, the draft pick doesn't mean nothing. It's all about establishing yourself once you get the opportunity."
An aggressive attacker down the field, Ward has a big-time arm and good feet that allow him to extend plays. He can run it with success (20 college rush TDs), but he'll keep his eyes down the field and drive the ball. Over 57 college games, he hit on 65% of his passes for 18,189 yards with 158 TDs and 37 INTs.
"I'm willing to do anything that it takes to win a football game whether be a gunslinger all day or I can hand the ball of a couple of times," he said. "At the end of the day, I know what kind of player I am, and the team should know what type of player they are getting in me. So I'm just going to go out there and try to do my best for myself and my teammates."
Ward, whose 158 TD passes are an NCAA record, won't throw for scouts until Miami's pro day on March 24. He has met with many NFL clubs including the Jets. The Green & White own the No. 7 overall selection in the Draft and GM Darren Mougey has said the club will "explore all options" at the QB position.
"I know it would be elite especially with the receiving core that they have and the defense they have," Ward said of possibly joining the Green & White. "Being able to talk to the head coach for the first time was exciting, so I think the Jets are not too far off, a couple of pieces and I'm just hoping I can be one of them."
