The Miami Hurricanes made a major splash in the transfer portal by landing Washington State quarterback Cam Ward. The pickup was so impactful that, just months later, Ward not only elevated the Hurricanes football program to new heights but also emerged as one of the top prospects in the NFL Draft.
Ward eventually went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans and is expected to be their franchise quarterback for years to come. Throughout the draft process, however, Ward faced heavy criticism. But when his name was called first, he silenced his doubters—and did so with humility.
“Forever humble because I know what it’s like to be at the bottom,” Ward posted after being drafted.
Ward possesses an elite arm, though questions remain about his tendency to turn the ball over. Still, the Titans couldn’t pass on his raw talent. During the pre-draft process, comparisons were made between Ward and Bo Nix, who wasn’t considered a top-tier quarterback in the previous class.
“Daniel Jeremiah shares that his grade on Cam Ward is tied with where he had Bo Nix last year. He would have had him behind the top four in last year's class," NFL Draft analyst Destin Adams reported.
Despite the scrutiny, Ward enters the league as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year—even before training camp begins. Analyst Chris Simms noted how overlooked Ward has been compared to past top picks.
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“He's the least talked about, under-the-radar No. 1 pick I think in the history of football... Let's go back to last year's draft. He would've been in the mix... I think he would've been my 3rd QB,” Simms said.
Ward is clearly using the doubt as fuel. He’s already proven his critics wrong once, and now the Titans’ new quarterback is set to showcase his talent on the biggest stage.