Did Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward make some NFL groups elevate their eyebrows when he sat by half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday?
Ward did not play through the second half in a 42-41 loss to Iowa State. Earlier than he exited, the QB threw the 156th TD go of his profession, setting an FBS report. He completed 12-of-19 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns.
Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal addressed the choice following the sport.
“All conferences with gamers and selections like that, we made them in personal, we maintain them in personal,” Cristobal mentioned, per ESPN. “So I will choose to not reply any questions because it pertains to that. However I do know he performed his greatest whereas he was in there.”
ESPN draft professional Matt Miller thinks the selection will not have an effect on his inventory.
“I promise you zero groups care that Cam Ward solely performed a half tonight,” Miller wrote on his X account whereas watching Miami lose. “Transfer on. Nothing to see right here.”
Others will disagree with Miller’s take. Professional Soccer Speak’s Michael David Smith defined expertise evaluators could frown on Ward leaving in the course of a recreation.
“Even some NFL personnel evaluators who don’t have any drawback with gamers opting out of bowls fully could have an issue with what Ward did,” wrote Smith in a bit revealed Sunday. “To play lengthy sufficient to pad your personal particular person stats, after which depart in the course of a recreation whereas your teammates are combating to complete their seasons as winners, is not going to take a seat proper with some within the NFL who’re contemplating whether or not to draft Ward.”
Ward doubtless took to the bench as a result of he did not wish to endure a serious damage, which might have an effect on his draft inventory. Nonetheless, he might’ve sat out of all the recreation to keep away from a possible controversy.
Ward — a 2024 Heisman finalist — might nonetheless be one of many prime picks within the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Inexperienced Bay. In response to Tankathon’s mock draft, the New York Giants will take him with decide No. 3.
Nevertheless, groups could query him about his mid-game opt-out all through the draft course of.
