The 2024 season saw a performance at the quarterback position that the Miami Hurricanes program had never seen before. Cam Ward came to Coral Gables in the 2024 offseason, and in just under a year’s time, he left program records in his wake and went from NFL Draft consideration to the #1 overall pick. It was the end arc of a college career of redemption from the zero-star recruit with almost no offers out of high school.
The picture looks far different coming into 2025 with the Hurricanes’ second straight new face from the transfer portal leading the way at the sport’s most important position in Carson Beck. However, there is still the potential for a redemption story there.
The man: Carson Beck
Beck came into the 2024 season as one of the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy. However, things didn’t shake out for Beck last year in the passing game. The Bulldogs struggled at times to move the ball through the air, but I think an inordinate amount of blame fell on Beck when more should have gone to his pass catchers and an offensive line that finally looked mortal after years of dominance. Gone were Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers, two of the best in the sport, and the number of drops and lack of big plays from the rest of the group was painfully obvious.
Now, he’ll have the opportunity to work behind what should be another good offensive line in Coral Gables and with an offensive coordinator who helped design the best passing game in program history in 2024. If Miami can find enough pass catchers to take steps forward in 2025 (CJ Daniels is apparently looking good early in camp), Beck should be in line to recapture some of shine on his name that many believe wore off last year.
The man with at least some game experience (and with a win over Clemson): Emory Williams
I’m still bent over the Pop Tarts Bowl last year. I said it then and I’ll say it again. I want everyone who plays to be invested enough for four quarters to win it.
However, it did give Williams a platform to see what he could do against a decent team, and it was kinda gross, as we all know. I think Williams is like the Seinfeld episode to where Jerry can’t decide if the girlfriend is attractive or not. That’s kind of how I feel about Williams as far as a capable backup. Sometimes he looks to me like he has upside and ability that could develop into something, like we saw in moments against Clemson and FSU in particular in 2023. But there are times where you’re left shaking your head too often.
I think he’s a good backup to have this season, and it’s good that he’s played in those tough games in crunch situations like I mentioned. Hopefully we don’t have to see him back in high-leverage moments in 2025, but it’s nice to know he’s there if needed.
The future: Luke Nickel, Judd Anderson
We’ll see how things look when the lights come on at the college level – the spring game was a terrific start, at least – but you have to love that Nickel has just been a winner in his career.
His physical tools don’t jump off the page at you at 6’2” 200-ish pounds and his arm strength isn’t elite, but it’s hard to deny the production at the high school level. Back-to-back state titles, 25 straight wins, 83 touchdowns over his last two years, and accolades out the ying-yang.
We’ll see how things shake out when 2026 commit Dereon Coleman gets to campus, but I like Nickel’s moxie, winning pedigree, and field vision/decision making.
Anderson has the physical tools to become something special – if he can develop them into being a good player. At 6’6”, he runs well and has a strong arm. His physical tools alone probably put his ceiling the highest of all backup quarterbacks.
We’ll see if Miami gets him and Nickel on the field some this season if Beck and the offense can engineer some wins with very comfortable margins.
The rest: Joe Borchers, Riply Luna, Nikao Smith
This trio served on the practice squad in 2024, and therefore the path to any kind of time on the field is obviously very slim.