Few starting quarterbacks in all of College Football have as much experience as Cam Ward. His college career began at the University of Incarnate Word, where he would start 19 total games.
After his time at UIW, Ward transferred to Washington State University, starting 25 total games. Now, as a 5th year senior Cam Ward’s game has ascended even after his level of competition grew more difficult.
Ward attended Columbia High School in Columbia, Texas where he only received two D1 offers from Incarnate Word and Texas Southern… a zero star recruit.
He helped his team become 2019 Co-District Champions, earned First Team All-District as quarterback, Honorable Mention All-State Football and All-Southern Brazoria County First Team Quarterback. Ward wasn’t just a one-sport athlete, he was even named a two time All-District Offensive MVP in basketball and was selected Honorable Mention All-State Academically.
Player Info
Name: Cameron Anthony Ward
Jersey: No. 1
Position: Quarterback
School: University of Miami
Class: 5th Year Senior
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 223 lbs.
Cam Ward’s Strengths
The most impressive part about Cam Ward’s game is his ability to improvise. His ability to extend plays and create something out of nothing is up there with the best of the best. Additionally, Ward’s poise and anticipation are great.
He looks incredibly calm navigating collapsing pockets, playing in high pressure situations, and you can just tell that the game is truly slowed down for him. He makes deliberate decisions and movements with the ball to put him in the most advantageous position possible.
Throughout Ward’s 2023 tape, you constantly see throws that are timed so well that he is literally releasing the ball before his receiver has made his break. He plays very well within and without rhythm, keeping the offense moving efficiently. Overall, Ward possesses very good arm talent.
He can put more than adequate velocity on his throws and displays the ability to adapt his arm angle with defenders in his face or while throwing on the run. His rushing upside and ability to put touch on his throws is also very good and impressive. Ward’s mechanics and footwork are repeatable and consistent, feet are constantly ready to throw while he is progressing through his reads and his upper-body throwing mechanics look dialed in.
He is very tough and displays very good intermediate accuracy. A common problem with NFL quarterback prospects is the noticeable inconsistencies in their ability to throw over the middle and from the hash to the field-side boundary. Overall, Ward’s processor is good, but there are still some small inconsistencies from game to game and the same goes for his deep accuracy.
Athletically, he’s got good change of direction and play speed, but he isn’t necessarily up there with the Lamar Jacksons or Jayden Daniels of the world. The best part about it though is that he doesn’t have to be, he is absolutely an adequate athlete for the modern quarterback position as a whole.
Cam Ward’s Weaknesses
In terms of major, glaring weaknesses in Ward’s game they’re hard to find in my opinion. You could argue a “late” breakout but he was virtually working his way from a very low level D1 school, so low that they’ve only been considered as such since 2013.
Situations like this almost always produce an older prospect with a late breakout so I’m not shocked and I actually admire the adversity that he battled through to get to where he is today.
In terms of ball security, I would have to say it’s solid at best simply due to the nature of his turnover-worthy plays though he is generally safe with the ball. Ward’s burst is also solid at best, he will get caught in short area situations, but I would say it’s still above average.
Ward’s frame and play strength are simply average. At 6’2 225lbs he doesn’t possess overwhelming size, especially for the NFL level and I think that can also be attributed to why he doesn’t play the most physical brand of football.
Draft Projection
After evaluating Cam Ward’s 2023 tape with Washington State, I’ve come to the conclusion that he absolutely possesses traits that will translate to the NFL and his game is very well rounded. I currently have a Mid 1st Round grade on him and expect that to go up once I re-evaluate him with 2024 tape, and definitely think he should be a projected first round pick.
