Fox analyst Huard and Washington State coaches discuss new UM QB Ward. And Canes notes

Part 3 of a four-part series on the Miami Hurricanes’ new quarterback

A six-pack of notes on new UM quarterback Cam Ward, who’s expected to be Miami’s starter for the 2024 season before moving to the NFL:

▪ Fox analyst and former NFL quarterback Brock Huard, who lives in Washington, offered this assessment via text message:

“I have seen Cam a few times in person. I was very surprised he was [initially] going to enter the draft because another year of [college football] will serve him well.

“His release is as quick and decisive as you will find in college football. Playing basketball on grass and facilitating and finishing like a point guard is his happy place.

“The area he needs to continue to grow is navigating the pocket and protecting the football.

“I look forward to watching him handle the pressures and expectations that come with performing at Miami in a year they all need to win.”

▪ Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said, just a couple of months ago, that “the best thing that Cam does, as underrated as it is, is he never takes his eyes off of downfield. They’re constantly downfield. He has an amazing ability to feel pressure and feel bodies around and escape.

“This year he’s made some unbelievable decisions on the move and on the run. It’s not like he’s the fastest kid in the world, but he has unbelievable ‘escapability.’ And he has good game speed.”

Before this past season, “Cam made the biggest jump in development of his footwork and leadership,” Arbuckle said. “And his football IQ has skyrocketed. It’s a testament to him. Takes every bit of teaching and coaching and has taken it to heart.”

Washington State coach Jake Dickert said this past season that Ward is “wildly talented. We saw that from Day 1. I think Cam deserves to be mentioned with the best quarterbacks in the country, period. I think he continues to show that, and I think nationally we undervalue him and what he’s doing.”

▪ Ward was told that he could be picked in the second or third round if he turned pro. He hopes to perform well this season and inject himself into the first-round conversation for the Draft in April 2025.

NFLdraftbuzz.com listed these as strengths:

“Mentally, Ward was able to make checks at the line of scrimmage and manage the run game... Most of the time he is at ease mentally in the pocket, and he’s willing to stand in and absorb hits while making a throw.

“Possesses an NFL arm. Gets the ball from one hash to the opposite sideline in a hurry. Has the zip to hit tight windows on short and intermediate throws. Good zip and ball placement on the quick slant. Good touch down the seam and on post-corner, flag routes to attack the defense vertically and horizontally.”

▪ That NFL Draft buzz website listed these as weaknesses:

“Has struggled with his decision-making and needs to improve his presnap recognition skills to read defenses and see blitzes. Doesn’t decipher information as quickly as you would like, but does see the entire field and understands coverage...

“Too often fails to give receivers a chance to make a play after the catch. High completion percentage padded by many quick screens.”

▪ Ward has experience in a pseudo Air Raid offense similar to the one that UM OC Shannon Dawson runs.

“They do a lot of 11 [and] 12 [personnel packages],” Ward told 247 Sports’ Chris Hummer. (Eleven personnel is one running back and a tight end; 12 personnel is a running back and two tight ends.)

“Coach Dawson has had a lot of success with quarterbacks,” Ward said. “The thing that is going to help me the most is improving each aspect of my game, to be able to go in and trust my teammates and try to lead them to their first ACC championship.”

▪ Quick stuff: 247Sports ranked Ward as the No. 10 overall player in the portal and the No. 3 quarterback in the portal as of last weekend, behind Michigan State and former Oregon State QB Aidan Chiles and Oregon and former UCLA QB Dante Moore....

Ward, who was a no-star prospect coming out of West Columbia, Texas, originally played at Incarnate Word and earned the Jerry Rice Award as the most outstanding FCS freshman. Ward threw for 4,648 yards with 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his sophomore year before transferring to Washington State and starting for two seasons with the Cougars....

New UM safety Mishael Powell and Ward played against each other twice in Washington-Washington State late November matchups. Per Pro Football Focus, Ward was 12 for 12 for 83 yards, with no TDs or interceptions, when targeting Powell’s coverage area, equal to a 95.5 NFL passer rating. But 52 of those yards came after the catch....

Ward is the all-time West Columbia High leading scorer in basketball, where he was a point guard. That vision has carried over to football.

NEWS NOTES

UM receiver Jacolby George remains with the Hurricanes in the wake of his arrest last Saturday morning in Volusia County.

George was charged with racing on the highway and attaching an unlawful registration. The racing charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, and the registration charge is a second-degree misdemeanor. He was released on a $1,000 bond Saturday morning.

George had 57 catches for 864 yards and eight touchdowns last season and was named third-team All-ACC. But he committed several personal foul penalties late in the year, including a cheap-shot against a Rutgers player in the bowl game.

▪ Quick stuff: Former UM cornerback Davonte Brown, who played one year for the Canes after transferring from UCF, committed to Florida State..

Former UM receiver Brashard Smith transferred to SMU…

Ex-UM tight end Jaleel Skinner committed to Louisville…

NFL-bound UM safeties James Williams and Kamren Kinchens accepted invitations to the Senior Bowl. Williams was invited as a linebacker, not as a safety.

▪ Per Fox Sports 640 radio host Andy Slater, former UM and Dolphins running back Mark Walton recently was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to an armed robbery in Miami.

Per Slater, Walton’s release date is March 2026 because he was credited with 589 days served in a local jail.

Here’s part 1 of our Cam Ward series with a breakdown from Washington State’s radio analyst.

Here’s part 2 of our series with something encouraging about his play and how he ended up at UM.