Former Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward will switch to Miami, he introduced on social media Saturday. Ward had beforehand declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, however will now return to school soccer to complete his profession with the Hurricanes. 

“Ever since I declared, I have never gotten lots of sleep,” Ward informed 247Sports. “It is all the time been at the back of thoughts, creeping up there. I really feel prefer it’s a win-win state of affairs. I can go (to Miami) behind an amazing head coach, nice offensive coordinator in an amazing offense, I really feel like I can enhance my inventory much more. There have been lots of issues coming into the image. However I really like taking part in school soccer, and I really feel like there’s simply extra left on the desk for me.”

Ward started his profession at Incarnate Ward below offensive-minded head coach Eric Morris and did not take lengthy to make a serious impression, pushing out an incumbent starter and successful the Jerry Rice Award as the highest freshman within the Soccer Championship Subdivision after averaging 376.7 yards passing per recreation through the Spring 2021 season. He returned as a starter in Fall 2021 and was named an FCS All-American. 

When Morris left UIW to take the offensive coordinator job at Washington State, Ward adopted. He continued to thrive there, throwing for practically 7,000 yards and 48 touchdowns in two seasons. He emerged as some of the elusive and artistic passers within the sport.

Ward threw for 13,874 yards and 119 touchdowns throughout his two stops and entered the switch portal with one 12 months of eligibility remaining as a graduate switch. Ward declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, spurning preliminary curiosity from the likes of Florida State and Miami, on Jan. 1 earlier than rescinding his title with a shocking announcement Saturday. 

Miami strikes in silence

Previous to Ward’s course reversal, it appeared as if the Hurricanes may strike out on all of their prime quarterback choices within the switch portal. The employees forged a really vast internet at that place after incumbent starter Tyler Van Dyke took his skills to Wisconsin. Ward, who visited Miami, was the primary domino to fall away from Coral Gables when he initially declared for the NFL Draft. 

The Hurricanes additionally took a giant swing at former Kansas State star Will Howard previous to his dedication to Ohio State, and have been reportedly focused on Arkansas’ KJ Jefferson and USC’s Malachi Nelson earlier than they determined in favor of UCF and Boise State, respectively. Former Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa appeared like an apparent possibility for the Hurricanes, given their proximity to his household and older brother Tua — who begins for the Miami Dolphins — however there’s some doubt on whether or not or not he’ll really be granted an additional 12 months of eligibility to play in 2024. 

With choices sporting skinny, Miami was nonetheless working Ward behind the scenes all the time. Its constant effort paid off because it now will get a sign caller with extra upside on the place than it is had in fairly a while. 

Wholesome competitors anticipated 

Whereas Ward seemingly is not coming to Miami to journey the bench, the Hurricanes are gearing up for an amazing competitors of their quarterback room between now and the beginning of the 2024 season. Ward is definitely the second quarterback switch to decide to “The U,” becoming a member of former Albany star and FCS All-American Reese Poffenbarger. 

Poffenbarger made his resolution identified on Jan. 8 after — on the time — it appeared like Miami whiffed on a plethora of prime choices. To not low cost Poffenbarger’s means; he led the FCS in passing with 3,614 yards and 36 touchdowns whereas guiding Albany to an look within the FCS Playoff semifinals. 

Miami’s transfers be a part of a roster that already boasts two quarterbacks with beginning expertise. Rising sophomore Emory Williams is a man that Mario Cristobal and his employees are clearly excessive on. He bought his first profession begin as a real freshman in 2023 and changed Van Dyke forward of a recreation in opposition to Clemson, main the Hurricanes to a win whereas throwing for 151 yards and one landing. He bought one other begin in opposition to Florida State in November and had 175 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to the eventual ACC champions earlier than struggling a devastating harm to his throwing arm. 

These veteran additions — Ward solely has a 12 months of eligibility left whereas Poffenbarger is getting into his fourth season of faculty soccer — will give Williams extra time to get better from his harm and develop with out a lot stress to step in instantly. One other good depth piece is sophomore Jacurri Brown, who began two video games in 2022 as a freshman. Brown additionally bought the beginning nod in Miami’s 2023 Pinstripe Bowl loss in opposition to Rutgers on account of Williams’ harm and Van Dyke’s resolution to switch. Barring any extra switch motion, Miami has one of many deepest quarterback teams in all of faculty soccer, a useful asset within the fashionable period.