Joel Klatt: Cam Ward is 'absolutely' the best quarterback in the ACC
Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes announced themselves with a 24-point opening win in The Swamp. With that, Joel Klatt thinks both the quarterback and the team have made their claim as the best in their conference.
Klatt spoke about the 41-17 win for the No. 19 Canes over Florida during his show on Monday. It came with a proclamation that Ward is the top quarterback in the entire ACC.
“Cam Ward is the best quarterback in the ACC and Cam Ward is why I believe in Miami,” said Klatt.
Klatt sees Ward as a difference-maker for the Hurricanes. To make his point, he noted the impact he had in his appearance this weekend while also noting the difference he had as compared to two of the other quarterbacks in the state in DJ Uiagalelei and Graham Mertz.
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“What’s the difference (between Miami and Florida)? Is it coaching? Maybe. Or is it quarterback? That’s really where it lies,” said Klatt.
“What’s the difference between those three? Because they went 1-2 in the opening of college football. Florida State losing, Florida losing, Miami winning. What’s the difference? Cam Ward,” Klatt said. “Cam Ward is the difference.”
However, Klatt says this should come as no surprise to anyone with what Ward has done over his four-year collegiate career, specifically his last two at Wazzu. It’s just obvious, though, that not many saw him play while with the Cougars. Still, someone in Coral Gables did and, for that, he credits them for getting him to The ‘U.
“That fanbase and administration has really supported the team. They have allowed them to go out and have the resources to build a roster that is in the Top-15 in college football and go get a guy like Cam Ward, which became a bidding war in his process of am I going to the NFL, am I not going to the NFL.”
“He finds his way to Miami and guess what? That guy can play. I think what’s evident is that a lot of people did not watch Washington State Football, unfortunately, which is a big reason why the Pac-12 ended up folding,” explained Klatt.
In his first outing at Miami, Ward went 26-35 (74.3%) for 385 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He also rushed for 33 additional yards. That helped the Hurricane offense to a 14-point lead in the first half before adding it on in the second. He also became the first quarterback in at least 45 years to throw for over 300 yards in his initial start for the school.
Ward was voted as ACC Preseason Player of the Year for a reason. He only further justified that honor with what he did from the beginning on Saturday.
Now, Klatt also sees him as the distinction that could make Miami into a contender both for their conference and across the country.
“This guy can play, ladies and gentlemen, and he is absolutely the best quarterback in the ACC.”
“They have a clear number one quarterback – a guy that can easily be considered one of the better players in college football, certainly in the ACC,” said Klatt. “If you have a quarterback then you can play quality football, in particular at the top end of the sport.”