Cameron Ward believes he is a top two quarterback in the Pac-12

Washington State made a surprising move when it brought in Incarnate Word quarterback Cameron Ward before the 2022 season, turning to him for help at the quarterback position.

Ward made it pay off last fall.

The talented quarterback threw for 3,231 yards with 23 touchdowns and just nine interceptions, while also adding 58 yards and five touchdowns rushing. Ward believes he’s right near the top of of the Pac-12 in terms of quarterbacks going into this season.

“I believe I’m at the top two,” Ward said at Pac-12 Media Days. “I’m a great competitor, a great teammate. I feel like I have all the intangibles to be a great quarterback at this level and the next level.”

Now with a year under his belt at the Power 5 level, Ward is in a position to really accelerate his growth curve in 2023.

He’s had time to learn the playbook, get used to the right calls and checks in different spots and execute a wide range of things for the Cougars. The Pac-12 quarterback is becoming more and more comfortable.

Though he might not have the accolades of some of the other Pac-12 quarterbacks, Ward feels like he’s on level pegging in terms of skill.

“I feel like we all have different things that separate us,” Ward said. “Caleb Williams and Cam Rising, they’re obviously at the top of the Pac-12. Cam Rising, two-time Pac-12 championship. He is at the top until somebody throws them. They are the standard right now. I’m trying to get to that level. You just take it one day at a time, one game at a time.”

One day at a time and one game at a time is a pretty savvy approach for a team that will have work to do if it hopes to finish near the top of the league standings.

The Cougars were picked to finish seventh in the league in 2023, falling behind USC, Washington, Utah, Oregon, Oregon State and UCLA.

Ward, of course, is the type of playmaker that can really change a team’s fortunes. He’s capable of winning you a handful of games with his big-time ability alone.

As Ward noted, though, there are some really good quarterbacks on other contending teams. Williams and Rising are stars for their respective teams, while Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix star for Washington and Oregon, respectively.

That’s a good handful of quarterbacks that will challenge, like Ward, for the top spot among the Pac-12 quarterbacks this fall.