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Cam Ward picks up 5th preseason watch list with Davey O'Brien Award

Miami quarterback Cam Ward earned a spot on his fifth preseason watch list being name to the Davey O'Brien Award on Thursday.

ByAlan Rubenstein|
Jul 24, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward speaks to the media during the ACC Kickoff at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 24, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward speaks to the media during the ACC Kickoff at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports | Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Cam Ward earned his fifth preseason watch list on Thursday being named by the Davey O'Brien Award. The Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Preseason ACC Player of the Year and first-team All-ACC were Ward's previous preseason honors entering the 2024 season.

Ward led all 2024 returnees averaging 311.3 passing yards per game in 2023. Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU and finalists Michael Penix of Washington and Bo Nix of Oregon were the only QBs to average more passing yards per game than Ward during the 2023 season.

Davey O'Brien is a former TCU and was the 1938 Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award winner. O'Brien was the first player to win the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award in the same season. Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992 are the only O'Brien Award winners.

Ward was one of 36 players and eight in the ACC to be named to the O'Brien Award watch list. Ward is the most highly regarded of the ACC QBs. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution lists Ward 10th in the consensus Heisman Trophy odds entering the 2024 season.

Ward had 6,963 passing yards and 48 touchdowns in 25 games in the last two seasons for Washington State. If Ward can come close to his average numbers at Washington State in the last two seasons he should have an opportunity to set the Miami single-season passing yardage record.

Washington State did not make a bowl game in 2023. Miami could have multiple games in 2024 beyond their 12 in the regular season. Miami is expected to be a contender for the ACC Championship game and potentially a College Football Playoff berth. That would give Miami one or two extra games.

Ward is the most highly touted QB coming into Miami since D'Eriq King transferred from Houston during the 2020 off-season. King had a prolific 2020 season for Miami before suffering a torn ACL in the Cheez-It Bowl versus Oklahoma State. King's Miami tenure ended with a season-ending shoulder injury early in the 2021 season..

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