Mario Cristobal reveals what he tells NFL personnel about Miami QB Cam Ward

The expectations were high for quarterback Cam Ward when he transferred to Miami this offseason. Named the Preseason ACC Player of the Year as one of the most experienced signal callers in college football following two seasons apiece at Incarnate Word and Washington State.

It’s safe to say that Ward has lived up to those expectations halfway through the college football season, leading the Hurricanes to an undefeated start all while increasing his NFL Draft stock along the way. Which led to Kevin Clark asking Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal about what he’ll tell NFL scouts about his quarterback when they ask about him.

“I’ve been lucky to be around some great players. This guy, he is really like one of one,” Cristobal said during his recent appearance on This Is Football. “His mindset is that of a linebacker that’s trying to kick your ass on every single play. That’s what he is. He’s an alpha dog, he wants to do nothing but win, is completely disinterested in personal accolades.”

Ward took home the Jerry Rice Award in 2020, awarded to the most outstanding freshman at the FCS level. And his nation-leading 23 total touchdowns along with the second-most passing yards in the FBS so far this season now has him firmly in the Heisman Trophy race. But according to Cristobal, Ward is more interested in leading his peers.

“He just wants to push people around them, he wants to make people better. Those the elite, elite guys, they have a common trait. One of the common traits they all have, I would say, is they’re just restless. They’re just always uncomfortable and they make people around them uncomfortable in the right kind of way because he pushes people, and he pushes himself, holds himself to really high standard,” Cristobal explained.

“Awesome leader, awesome human being, and when the lights are on brother, the confidence in him is off the charts because of what he does, not just with what he says.”

Instead of declaring for the NFL Draft this offseason, Ward decided to return for a fifth college season and enter the transfer portal. Instantly becoming one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the country who has now been able to put his unique skill set on full display on the biggest stage of his career.

“I hope that when the NFL watches tape on him they look at two things. Number one, that he came back to college to prove himself that he can lead a team to be a winner,” Cristobal said. “Because if you look at in his past history, he’s always been playing from behind and the supporting cast maybe just wasn’t up to a certain level where he could lead and sometimes play from ahead, extend leads, and that kind of stuff. He’s had a chance here to play from ahead, play from behind, bring us back in some really, really tough situations.”

Ward has led the Hurricanes to two straight comeback wins to start ACC play. Down 10 points during two separate instances in Miami’s Week 5 win over Virginia Tech followed by erasing a 25-point second half lead in a win over Cal.

But the way he’s goes about business on the field in those performances and others is what’s separated Ward. Playing with a seemingly relaxed style of play in the pocket with the ability to extend plays and make all the throws. Oftentimes doing so in dazzling fashion with off-platform passes with a variety of arm angles.

“In terms of him, risk taken, I mean these aren’t just kind of guess and just throw one up. Everything he does has a rhyme and a reason, and he does it in practice,” Cristobal said. “There’s complete confidence in what he does and what he’s going to continue doing, because we’ve been watching out here on this practice field. Like every day in spring ball, all summer, and fall camp and going holy bleep, I can’t wait till this guy gets to do it live.”

Ward will look to keep the Hurricanes undefeated coming off of their bye this Saturday when they travel for a matchup against Louisville. Another opportunity to make his case for the Heisman Trophy and impress NFL evaluators in the process.