Colorado’s Travis Hunter won the award for best College Football Player
On Saturday night, the Downtown Athletic Club hosted the Heisman Trophy Ceremony on ESPN. Among the finalists for the prestigious award was Miami Hurricanes QB Cam Ward.
A 6’2”, 222lb senior from West Columbia, TX, Ward has been among the most productive players in the sport for the past 5 years. A 0-star recruit from a small town that ran a wing-T offense, Ward took his only scholarship offer to Incarnate Word, a small FCS team located in nearby Houston. Ward promptly took the job from the incumbent starter, and posted huge numbers.
After getting started with a 2,260 yards on 60.4% completions with 24 TDs and 4 INTs in the shortened COVID season (played in the spring of 2021), Ward took his game to new levels in the full fall 2021 season. 4,648 yards passing on 65.1% completions with 47 TDs and 10 interceptions for a 10-3 UIW team that lost in the 2nd round of the FCS playoffs.
Following his time at Incarnate Word, Ward transferred to Washington State. For most, the step up in competition would be more than they could take. For Ward, it was a chance to show his prodigious talents at a higher level. 3,232 yards on 64.4% completions with 23 TDs and 9 INTs in his first season for the Cougars. Wazzu went 7-6 and made a bowl game.
Ward stepped his game up again in 2023, and was fully a known name in the CFB world. 3,736 yards on 66.7% completions with 25 TDs and 7 INTs, and wins over Wisconsin and Oregon State, who were both ranked at the time of the games. The Cougars faded after a 4-0 start, and finished 5-7, but Ward’s performance remained elite all along the way.
After initially entering the transfer portal, and taking visits to several schools including Miami, Ward entered his name into the 2024 NFL Draft. Ward received a draft grade that made him reconsider that decision, and reversed course, committing to Miami to be their QB for the 2024 season.
Once in Coral Gables, Ward’s performance was nothing short of transcendent. It started in the opener against Florida, a blowout win against a hated rival, and didn’t stop. Ward’s stat line this season was incredible: 293 for 435 passing (67.4% completions) for 4,123 yards with 36 TDs and 7 interceptions, 196 yards and 4 TDs rushing, and 1 catch for 7 yards and 1 touchdown. And those weren’t empty stats. Ward led Miami to a 9-0 start and top 4 ranking in the country. While Miami would lose 2 of their final 3 regular season games, Ward continued to put up monster numbers, but was let down by his defense.
In his only season at Miami, Ward has re-written the passing record book for the Canes. He holds the single season records for passing yards, touchdown passes, and total touchdowns. While posting that performance, Ward led Miami to 10 wins for the first time since 2017, and has the Canes in position to win 11 games for the first time since 2003. For his efforts, Ward was named ACC Overall and Offensive Player of the Year, and also won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best Quarterback.
Though he has been a transcendent player for Miami, and posted video game numbers with plenty of highlight reel plays along the way, Ward did not win the Heisman Trophy. He finished 4th behind Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter, the first mainly defensive player to win the award since Charles Woodson in 1997, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel finished. Here are the final voting numbers:
Full Heisman voting. pic.twitter.com/Oou8D7FgQh
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) December 15, 2024
Even though he didn’t win the Heisman, Ward had the highest finish of any Miami Hurricane in 20 years. RB Willis McGahee and QB Ken Dorsey finished 4th and 5th, respectively, in 2002.
“He’s the best player I’ve ever been around, and he’s the best quarterback in the country” – Mario Cristobal talking about Cam Ward just now
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) December 15, 2024
A record setting year to cap an incredible career that started as a 0 star recruit and ends in New York City at the Heisman Trophy ceremony. No matter how you slice it, Cam Ward has been a success story for the Miami Hurricanes, and I’m honored to have been able to watch him this season.
You can watch Cam Ward for the final time in his storied college career when the Miami Hurricanes face the Iowa State Cyclones in the Pop Tarts Bowl on December 28th.