The former Cardinals quarterback is poised to hear his name called during the opening round of the NFL Draft.
SAN ANTONIO — I asked UIW Football Head Coach Clint Killough recently what a day in the life of Cam Ward must be like these days.
“It is probably pretty exciting for a multitude of reasons,” said Killough. “He gets to live in a new city, new place, and his bank account is gonna be pretty healthy. And he gets the keys to a franchise.”
Ward, a former quarterback for the Cardinals in San Antonio, is poised to be the top overall NFL Draft selection when the opening round gets underway Thursday night in Green Bay.
Ward played the first two years of his collegiate career at the University of the Incarnate Word. He then transferred to Washington State for two years before playing at the University Of Miami for his final season.
The Hurricanes went 10-3 this year, losing the Pop-Tarts Bowl to Iowa State, 42-41.
But Ward was magnificent for the ‘Canes, finishing top-3 among NCAA quarterbacks in touchdowns (39) and yards (4,313). He also finished second in yards per throw (9.5), passer rating (172.2) and interceptions (seven) for signal callers who threw for at least 4,000 yards last season.
The Cardinals coaching staff, then head coached by Eric Morris, first saw Ward at their summer camp workouts and were highly impressed from the start.
“He came to camp and I’ll never forget the way the ball came off his hand,” said Killough. “He was throwing it around making come back throws and pushing it down the field. It was one of those things where we just all looked around and said ‘Did you see what I just saw?'”
Ward starting his career at UIW is going to be some great trivia to remember down the road.
In fact, the Cardinals were his only division one scholarship offer. His high school offense at Columbia High School ran the Wing T offense averaging only 12 pass attempts per game. That’s not much tape to see but it was what Ward showed at the UIW summer camp that made the coaching staff realize he was something special.
“That’s why we scholarshipped him and gave him that opportunity,” said Killough. “And when he got here his ability to process coming from Wing T offense to where he ran the show with our air raid, fast tempo, wide open wide split stuff was really impressive.”
Ward himself said at his pro day that wherever he lands is perfect for him.
“I just want to play football,” said Ward.
And so here we are! The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 1 pick and they are on the clock.
I asked Coach Killough what the Titans, if they do indeed make the pick, are getting in Ward.
“A guy with supreme confidence,” he said. “A guy that no moment has been too big for him. And I don’t expect any differently when he gets on the big stage. I think this is something he has been working for for a really long time. He is gonna galvanize the city.”
I was all over Cam during the Heisman Trophy race, convinced he was going to win the award. But his late regular season stumble dropped him Colorado’s Travis Hunter (who I did vote for giving full disclosure).
But the idea that a former UIW quarterback, and I mean that completely respectfully, is going to likely be the first pick in the draft is just mind-boggling in some ways.
“I think it is awesome,” Killough said. “Obviously it is great for our program and it just goes to show that if you get that chance and make the most of it and take advantage of your opportunity it can change your life.”
I’m personally hoping he throws up the three finger “GO CARDS!” sign to show love for UIW on Thursday night.
“He loves this place for sure,” said Killough.