From Cardinal to Titan, Ward is on his way to Tennessee after being selected with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
SAN ANTONIO — Cam Ward, who played quarterback for the Incarnate Word Cardinals from 2020 to 2021, has been selected by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ward played the first two years of his collegiate career at UIW from 2020-2021. He then transferred to Washington State for two years before playing at the University Of Miami for his final season.
In 11 of 19 games for the Cardinals, he tossed at least four touchdowns.
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 1 scholarship offer. His high school offense at Columbia High School ran the Wing T offense, averaging only 12 pass attempts per game.
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.
Before the draft, KENS 5 asked UIW Football Head Coach Clint Killough what the Titans will be getting if they take Ward with the top pick?
“A guy with supreme confidence,” Killough 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.”
The front office, coaches and fans in Tennessee hope this will be the case and clearly believe it’s a possibility, having taken him first overall. The Titans explored their options with the first pick before it became clear a few weeks ago that Ward would be their man.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement to kick off the draft, which for the first time was held next to historic Lambeau Field. The NFL’s smallest market is hosting the league’s biggest offseason event as thousands of fans from across the country traveled to Titletown for the festivities.
Goodell rode a bicycle onto the draft stage and was followed by former Packers stars Clay Matthews, Jordy Nelson, Mason Crosby, Ahman Green and James Jones, as well as rap megastar and Green Bay superfan Lil Wayne.
As usual, fans booed Goodell when he opened the extravaganza.
Titans fans cheered inside the draft theater after hearing Ward’s name was called. An overlooked high school player out of Texas, Ward began his college career at Incarnate Word, an FCS school in San Antonio. He played two seasons at Washington State after transferring there in 2022 and then set school records in his only season at Miami, finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
The Titans are coming off a three-win season and have missed the playoffs three straight years. Ward is the fourth quarterback Tennessee has drafted in the first round over the past two decades, joining Marcus Mariota (No. 2, 2015), Jake Locker (No. 8, 2011) and Vince Young (No. 3, 2006).
Mariota is the only QB drafted by Tennessee in that span who led the team to a playoff win. That was back in 2017.
Will Levis, the 33rd overall pick in 2023, is 5-16 as a starter in his two seasons with the Titans.