Analyzing options for QB Cam Ward in the transfer portal

The latest on Cam Ward and the transfer portal is intriguing, to say the least, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

The former Washington State quarterback entered the portal but might not be in a rush to find a new school. In fact, the NFL is still on the table for Ward, according to Nakos.

He joined Andy Staples On3 to give the latest on the dual-threat signal caller.

“So I put an Intel piece on Thursday saying that I’d been hearing that there was a chance Cam Ward was gonna go to Miami this weekend,” Nakos said. “From my understanding that did not happen. I think the really interesting thing though, that you have to like, keep an eye on and remember when you’re talking about Cam Ward, the NFL was like still very much (a possibility). That was not just thrown out there … He could go to the NFL Draft. 

“The other thing I was gonna mention … I don’t think they want to rush this process just like they’re waiting on this draft grade,” Nakos said. “I don’t think they want to make a decision and then find out the draft grade so by no means am I anticipating something right away. He needs to take a couple of visits in my opinion first and I think that’s how it’s gonna play out.”

Miami lost starter Tyler Van Dyke to the portal and head coach Mario Cristobal could certainly use a dynamic option for 2024. But of course, if NFL scouts like Ward, he could declare for the draft.

“Miami is an interesting one too,” Staples said. “I said a place where they run something similar to the offense that he ran in Washington State, which would be USC, which would be any of the air-raid coaches. Shannon Dawson in Miami is an air-raid guy as well. So that would make a lot of sense. 

“But yeah, the NFL piece of it is another one that I think we’re just getting used to this now, where you’ve got these older quarterbacks, who the choice is not just do I go into the transfer portal? It’s: do I go to the transfer portal, or do I go into the draft or do I stay here?”

In two seasons at Washington State, Ward had 6,986 yards, 48 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, a 65.5% completion percentage, 202 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.