Has Miami football improved the most at QB nationally for 2024?
The addition of Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward has elevated the projections of the 2024 Miami football team. John Buhler of our parent site FanSided ranked Ward first in his article "5 college football teams who have raised their QB ceiling for 2024."
Ward provides Miami with an NFL-level talent at quarterback who has two years of proven success in a Power Conference. The transfer of Ward to Miami seems like a perfect match. Washington State was left without a Power Conference after the massive realignment last year and will be a Group of Five program beginning in 2024.
The transfer by Ward to Miami allows him to continue competing against Power Conference opponents in his final season of college football. In two seasons at Washington State, Ward completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 6.968 yards, 7.1 yards per attempt, 48 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 138.0 passer rating.
Ward leads all returning QBs with 311.1 passing yards per game in 2023. In his second season at Washington State, Ward improved his numbers. Ward completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 3,232 yards, 6.5 YPA, 23 TDs and nine interceptions in 2022. Ward completed 66.6 percent 3,736 yards,7.7 YPA, 25 TDs and seven interceptions in 2023.
"1. Former Washington State QB Cam Ward to Miami
- John Buhler, Fansided
It is hard to top Cam Ward going from Washington State to Miami after briefly declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. It was head-scratching in the moment when it happened. His five-second message announcing his declaration was the stuff of legend. However, he came to his senses and returned.
Ward made a wise decision to go to an undervalued ACC program like Miami for what will be his final college season. No, I don't think he is going to be the Hurricanes' next version of D'Eriq King. What I do anticipate is he will be is one of the best quarterbacks not only in the ACC, but the country.
If all goes according to plan, Miami could have a season on par to what Mario Cristobal experienced previously at Oregon when Justin Herbert was his quarterback. Again, this has nothing to do with downgrading Tyler Van Dyke, but rather the potential upside Ward has in his one year at Coral Gables. He could be ACC Player of the Year and a Heisman Trophy finalist on a College Football Playoff team.
Ward took Miami from a borderline bowl team once again in 2024 to a team capable of going 10-2."
After a breakout 2021 season when he was named ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, Van Dyke struggled with inconsistency and interceptions in the last two seasons. The decision by Van Dyke to transfer to Wisconsin was a good break for him and Miami. Ward should improve the ceiling at QB for Miami in 2024.
The NFL Mock Draft Database lists Van Dyke as the 89th-best prospect for 2025. Ward is listed as the 45th-best prospect. Miami gains a better talent at QB per their NFL Draft projections. With Jacurri Brown and Emory Williams another year older in the Miami offense and the addition of Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger, Miami will have better depth at QB in 2024.
ESPN names Cam Ward as 2024 transfer with most to prove. ESPN names Cam Ward as 2024 transfer with most to prove. dark. Next
Ward certainly has the potential to be a Heisman Trophy finalist and will be one of the preseason favorites to win ACC Player of the Year. Ward has the best Heisman Trophy odds of any ACC player per FanDuel at plus 2000. If Ward has the season he is expected to have for Miami, he will be in the ACC POY and Heisman discussion.