Cam Ward has been a revelation for the Miami Hurricanes, leading an explosive offense that is not only turning heads nationally but also positioning him for a run at the Heisman Trophy.
“At the end of the day, if you truly love football, the only thing you want to make a career of is doing anything and everything to put yourself in a position to win football games,” Ward said.
Ward cemented himself in Hurricanes history this past Saturday against Georgia Tech when he set a new Miami record for the most touchdown passes in a single season, surpassing Steve Walsh’s mark of 29 that was set in 1988.
“It’s great that the public gets to see all his hard work come to fruition,” said Mario Cristobal, Miami head coach. “We see it every single day in practice.”
His poise under pressure and ability to make plays when it matters most, has quickly made him one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football.
From the early days of Miami being a national powerhouse under Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson, the Hurricanes have produced some of the most talented quarterbacks in the history of the game.
Vinny Testaverde, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1986, was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Just a few years later in 1992, Gino Toretta followed in Testaverde’s footsteps and won the prestigious trophy as well, after leading Miami to an undefeated regular season.
Steve Walsh, the leader of Miami’s 1987 national championship squad, also put up record-breaking numbers during his tenure.
His 29 touchdown passes in the 1988 season stood as the benchmark for excellence at Miami – until Cam Ward broke the record on November 9.
“He always does things that kind of wow you at times,” said Shannon Dawson, Miami offensive coordinator.
The fact that Ward broke Walsh’s record, which has been unchallenged for over three decades, is a testament to how far Miami’s quarterback program has come.
His numbers this season are Heisman-caliber: over 3,400 passing yards, 32 touchdown passes, and an ESPN quarterback rating of 89.6 that ranks first in the nation.
“A tremendous amount of confidence in him,” said Cristobal. “Really appreciate his approach to the game, really appreciate the way he impacts his teammates in the preparation part, which leads to good performances.”
He has been the heartbeat of the Miami offense, orchestrating a dynamic attack that’s capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.
“I’ll never get complacent,” said Ward. “I always want more.”
