Mario Cristobal: Cam Ward is a 'game changer' for Miami

The expectations for the Miami Hurricanes are as high as they’ve been during the Mario Cristobal era. Those expecations are fueled by a haul of proven players joining the team through the transfer portal this offseason, including experienced quarterback Cam Ward.

Ward joins the Hurricanes with 44 career starts between his time at Incarnate Word and Washington State and could very well be the key to Miami getting over the hump in 2024. And at ACC Media Days on Wednesday, Cristobal shared how Ward changes the game for his team.

“In a lot of ways,” Cristobal said. “I think it’s very well documented, his productivity as a player throughout his career, and what really stands out in the short time we’ve been around him is he’s an alpha leader.

“And on the way in and when we were watching him on film it was obvious to the entire country, and the reason everybody watched him was his playmaking ability, right? Really accurate, great arm strength, the ability to improvise, extend plays. A game changer.”

Ward was between declaring NFL Draft or returning for one more college season this offseason. A talented playmaker, Ward has thrown for 13,874 yards and 119 touchdowns in his four-year career, proving himself as an accurate passer who can make accurate throws on time and off schedule.

But what stands out the most in Cristobal’s eyes has more to do with his mentality and intangibles.

“But what impressed us the most was whenever there was a bad play, his ability to bounce back and make things right. His aggressive, competitive nature to come back and make things right to go and make up for maybe a play that was negative was really really impressive,” Cristobal explained. “And that has really stood out in his time at Miami throughout spring practice as he just built and gained the trust of his teammates.”

Ward being one of the top quarterbacks in the country and Miami being a program desperate to return to their glory days of the early 2000s is no secret. And their head coach is surely a believer that he could be the key to unlocking Miami’s potential and taking them back to championship heights.

“We believe in Cam Ward and we believe that Cam Ward will allow Miami to do things that Miami hasn’t been able to do in a long long time,” Cristobal said. “We have complete trust and faith in him and the guys around him. He’s a dynamic player, but even more importantly, he’s a dynamic human being.”