Cam Ward vaulted from No. 56 in the preseason rankings to No. 3 in the ESPN "Ranking the top 100 college football players of the 2024-25 season." Ward unquestionably had the best season by a quarterback in Miami Hurricanes history. By the end of the season, Ward held numerous Miami single-season records.
Ward set Miami single-season records with 4,313 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns, 43 TDs responsible for and 4,517 total yards. Led by Ward, Miami was No. 1 nationally averaging 43.9 points per game and 537.2 yards per contest. An inconsistent defense kept Miami from making the playoff.
Ward exceeded expectations in his one season as the Miami QB, as the vault in the ranking ESPN top 100 college football players for 2024-25 season indicates. Before Ward transferred to Miami he was projected as a late second or third day 2024 NFL Draft pick.
Ward transferred to Miami to improve his NFL Draft stock. The NFL Mock Draft Database projects Ward as the consensus No. 1 overall pick in April. The Tennessee Titans have the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Will Levis, who Tennessee drafted in the second round in 2023, is the current Tennessee starting QB.
"Preseason ranking: 56David Hale, ESPN
Ward led the country in Total QBR (88.7), passing touchdowns (39) and completions of 20 yards or more (74). He had 11 touchdown throws that gave Miami a lead, but his defense couldn't get off the field enough late in the season to give him the chances he needed to lead the Canes to the promised land. Nevertheless, Ward turned in one of the great QB seasons in recent memory. "
ESPN continues to show Cam Ward love for his historic season with Miami
Led by Ward, Miami scored 50 points five times and eclipsed 40 three times. In their final two losses, Miami scored a combined 79 points. Not much more could have been asked from Ward in 2024. Ward had a combined 43 TDs and only 10 turnovers in 2024.
The numbers stated by Hale led to Ward being a Heisman Trophy finalist. Ward had one of the most memorable seasons in Miami history. The comeback from 35-10 down at California was the second-biggest in Miami history. Miami rallied from a 28-0 deficit for a 31-28 win at Boston College in 1999 - that was the biggest comeback in program history.
Ward will potentially be the second Miami player selected No. 1 overall in the NFL common draft. Vinny Testaverde was the first pick in the 1987 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after winning the 1986 Heisman Trophy. Ward set a legacy at Miami that will always endure.