Cam Ward named top 25 most important players to CFP race
Miami quarterback Cam Ward is eighth in the ESPN "The 25 most important players in 2024's College Football Playoff race." Ward was in the subheading "Quarterbacks with a potential game-changing leap in them." Miami is on the fringe of College Football Playoff contender.
Miami is 19th in the USA Today Coaches Poll released on Monday. Consensus 2024 projections for Miami have them on the edge of College Football Playoff teams. Bill Connelly of ESPN wrote an extensive summary of Ward. Connelly began by summarizing Ward's 2023 season at Washington State and his decision to transfer to Miami.
Connelly praised Ward for being a playmaker in the spread offense, but stated his ofter holds on to the ball too long, causing sacks. Connelly mentions Ward playing for Miami offense coordinator Shannon Dawson as a positive, but he is skeptical about Mario Cristobal allowing Ward to be creative offensively.
Connelly states the case for Miami and Ward having break out 2024 seasons. The case can be made for running back Damien Martinez and Ward to form one of the most high-upside backfields in college football in 2024, per Connelly.
"At the end of the day, it's all about putting the team in the best situation to win."
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) August 9, 2024
QB1 Cam Ward talked with @EJManuel3 about goals and what he brings to the table for @CanesFootball 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0XrBvMkPij
Connelly also mentions defensive lineman Rueben Bain and Miami's relatively easy road schedule as the reasons Miami is a College Football Playoff contender. Connelly closes by saying if Ward lives up to his projections Miami can make a leap, but acknowledges that the Hurricanes have been touted before and failed expectations.
The ESPN article has the full summary of Connelly's expectations for Miami. Connelly is a metrics guru who developed the SP+ college football rankings. Ward is the only ACC player among the "Quarterbacks with a potential game-changing leap in them." Ward is a sleeper Heisman Trophy candidate.
Next. Cam Ward piling preseason honors with Walter Camp POY watch list. Cam Ward piling preseason honors with Walter Camp POY watch list. dark
If Ward can live up to bring the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, Miami should challenge for an ACC Championship and berth in the inaugural 12-tea College Football Playoff. Miami has enough talent throughout the roster to earn all of its goals during the 2024 season.