by Christy Cabrera Chirinos at miamihurricanes.com
Cam Ward stepped off the media podium at the NFL Combine and began making his way from one interview station to another. He hopped on the radio. Did a TV hit.
And from a nearby distance, as he answered question after question, Calvin and Patrice Ward – his parents – watched with pride and soaked in every moment of this latest step on their son’s football journey.
It’s a journey that began years ago, in West Columbia, Texas – a town of 3,616 an hour south of Houston – and now has him on the verge of reaching his childhood dream of playing professional football.
And doing so, more than likely, as one of the top picks in this year’s draft.
It’s a remarkable feat given that, not long ago, Ward was a zero-star quarterback prospect in high school hoping someone – anyone – would give him the chance to play collegiately.
Those chances eventually came, first at Incarnate Word, then at Washington State and ultimately, at Miami where Ward established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.
At Miami, he broke records, won both the Manning Award and the Davey O’Brien Award and, in December, earned himself an invitation to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
His name will soon be raised to the rafters of the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, given his status as a first-team All-American and the expectation is that in late April, it will be called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at this year’s NFL Draft in Green Bay.
No wonder Calvin and Patrice Ward couldn’t stop smiling as their boy made his way around the Indiana Convention Center on Friday morning.
“This is his dream,” Patrice Ward said as she watched Cam slip on a radio headset and sit down for yet another interview. “He’s worked so hard, believed in himself. And you know, if you have faith in God and believe in yourself, you can accomplish all things. He’s made it, in spite of not being in the spotlight all the time, growing up being a zero-star and all that other stuff. He’s earned everything because he put the work in.”
Added Calvin Ward, “Watching him right now seems surreal. He’s chasing his dream.”
Over the course of the last few days in Indianapolis, Cam Ward earned high praise from the Miami teammates who were with him at the Combine.
They lauded his ability to extend plays with his feet, his accuracy and his arm strength.
But when asked about why they felt their quarterback was worthy of being a top draft pick, or the top quarterback selected in this year’s draft, one consistent answer emerged: Ward’s leadership, on and off the field.
“Playing with Cam Ward was great. He came into the program, and he changed it,” said Miami wide receiver Jacolby George. “We all learned from him, and we just became one once he got into the facility. His personality was a big part of how we played our season, how we did so [well]. … I feel like he’s the reason why we had that winning season. He’s the reason why we stuck together, and everybody had to become one, so we could win games.”
Added fellow Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo, “It’s pretty easy playing receiver when you have Cam Ward back there. His knowledge of the game, the way he prepares, and just the way he takes control. He makes it super easy.”
And while Ward opted not to throw during drills at the Combine – saying instead he’d perform at Miami’s pro day later this month – that leadership was on full display in Indianapolis when cameras caught the quarterback helping both George and Restrepo warm up for their turns on the Combine stage.
For those who haven’t been around the quarterback very much, it might have been a surprising move. For those who’ve shared a locker room with him, it was merely one more instance of their quarterback stepping up to lead.
“Throughout college, I’ve grown to be more vocal. But at the end of the day, it’s all about leading by example,” Ward said. “I believe the quarterback is always going to be the highest paid player on the team and he has to showcase that skill [set] every Sunday and throughout the facility to his teammates. I think I’ll be one of those guys in the long run.”
While in Indianapolis, Ward shared that he’s had productive conversations with more than a few NFL teams, including those with the top three picks in the draft: the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.
If one of those teams were to call Ward’s name, he’d be the first Hurricane taken in the top five of the draft since 2004, when Washington selected Sean Taylor with the fifth pick. Were he to go first overall, Ward would be the first Hurricane to accomplish that feat since 1991, when the Dallas Cowboys took Russell Maryland in that spot.
Ultimately, though, Ward said where he’s selected doesn’t matter.
It’s what he’ll do with the opportunity that will make the difference.
“Draft pick would never mean anything,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to show [what] you can prove each and every Sunday. You can’t just do it one year … You’ve got to do it every time you step on the field.”
And throughout his journey, there’s no doubt that Ward has made the most of the opportunities given him.
During his freshman season at Incarnate Word, which gave him his lone scholarship offer coming out of high school, Ward completed 60 percent of his passes and threw for 2,260 yards and 24 touchdowns during a six-game season modified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 24 scoring passes set a new record, and Ward was later named the Southland Conference Spring Freshman of the Year and won the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented annually to the top FCS freshman.
As a sophomore, he completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for 4,648 yards and 47 touchdowns. He led the Cardinals to the Southland Conference Championship and earned recognition as the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
When Incarnate Word head coach Eric Morris took a job with Washington State, that created another opportunity for Ward, this one in Pullman.
Ward took it, and once again, capitalized.
During his two years with the Cougars, the quarterback started 25 games, completed 66 percent of his passes and totaled 6,963 yards and 48 touchdowns. He rushed for another 13 scores and showed off his ability to extend plays and elude defenders.
After weighing whether to enter the NFL Draft or use his fifth year of eligibility, Ward ultimately opted to transfer to Miami, a decision he spoke about – again – in Indianapolis.
“I love playing college football [and] it was a good steppingstone for my journey, to get to this level,” Ward said. “I just think there was more food left on the table for me, more that I needed to improve on just personally with just the way I approach the game, my mindset, the footwork I needed to get better at. And I just think going to Miami, the team they already had, it was just plug and play.”
Ward’s season at Miami proved one to remember – both for him, and the Hurricanes.
The quarterback led Miami to its first 10-win season since 2017 and helmed the nation’s top offense, one that averaged 537.2 yards per game.
Ward set new single-season records for Miami with his 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and 305 completions. He finished his career with 158 career touchdown passes, a new NCAA Division I record.
Those numbers helped Ward earn recognition as the ACC Player of the Year, made him a Heisman Trophy finalist, helped him win the Manning Award and the Davey O’Brien Award and have now helped him rise up draft boards across the NFL.
For Ward, last season – and every one before it – has culminated in this moment.
And his journey, he says, has both shaped him and prepared him for what comes next.
“The tape says everything, I believe. I’m honest to that. I think what separates me from everybody is the way I approach it, the mindset I have going onto the field each and every game,” Ward said. “And coming from my journey, not a lot of people can do that. I just think it shows the work I’m willing to put in. Whether I go first round or second round, at the end of the day, the draft pick doesn’t mean [anything]. It’s all about establishing yourself once you get the opportunity.”
