Miami and Cam Ward clean up ACC and National Awards

The Miami football nplayers earned ACC Player of the Week Awards including quarterback Cam Ward who added two national honors after the Hurricanes beat Florida 41-17 on Saturday. Ward earned ACC QB of the Week, Jaden Harris earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week and center Zach Carpenter ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Ward was also named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 and the Maxwell Player of the Week. Ward completed 26 of his 35 pass attempts for 385 yards, three touchdowns and one interception with 33 rushing yards. The Miami offense accumulated 529 yards versus Florida, 418 by Ward.

Harris had seven tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1.0 pass breakup and 1.0 interception that he secured after he fell on the field. Carpenter led a Miami offensive line that allowed only 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, averaged 4.36 yards per carry and an astronomical 10.69 yards per pass attempt.

The Davey O'Brien Trophy has honored the best QB in college football annually since 1981. The Maxwell Award has honored the College Football Player of the Year since 1937. Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992 won the O'Brien Trophy and Maxwell Award. QB Ken Dorsey won the Maxwell Award in 2001.

Ward transferred to Miami from Washington State in January. Carpenter came to Miami through the portal from Indiana following the 2023 regular season in December. Harris is a redshirt sophomore who started two games for Miami in 2023 with starter Kam Kinchens out with an injury.

Ward utilized 10 receivers on Saturday. Four of those receivers are new to Miami in 2024. Miami is fifth in the ACC in scoring offense and third in total offense after week one. The Hurricanes are the top-scoring team in the ACC among the programs that played power conference opponents.

Harris is part of a Miami secondary with a lot of new faces. Washington transfer Mishael Powell also had an interception for Miami, which he returned for 67 yards. With how well Miami played on Saturday, expect the Hurricanes to earn several more ACC Player of the Week Awards in 2024.