Miami QB Cam Ward excited about looming practices, team’s potential: “It’s going to be a different type of football compared to last year”

The big hope for the Miami Hurricanes offense this season is that transfer quarterback arrival Cam Ward, from Washington State, will fix the inconsistent play behind center the last two years under Mario Cristobal that has seen UM go 5-7 and 7-6.

Ward is set to begin competing next month in spring practice after arriving on campus in January. He told CaneSport during an appearance for Cane Connection at the new Legends Hurricane team store that he’s still learning about the area, is working out and studying film and has already gone fishing on a regular basis with some teammates … including nabbing a stingray.

On the field? He has plenty of talent to complement him: Top returning receivers Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George, starting running back Henry Parrish, three starting returners on the offensive line (LT Jalen Rivers, RT Francis Mauigoa and RG Anez Cooper), plus the expectation that TE Elijah Arroyo will be back healthy as the anticipated starter.

Ward said at an autograph signing event that Restrepo “was one of the first guys to reach out to me after I committed. He’s going to be one of our top guys this year – him, Jacolby, Isaiah Horton. I’ve been feeling love from teammates – at the end of the day we’re all on the same mission, all are trying to get the work in. I feel like now, me being here for four weeks, they finally know who I am, what I’m about as a leader, what I want to accomplish my last year of (college) football. So we are all getting on the same page and I’m looking forward to it.”

He adds that “It all starts up front- Coop is instilling his confidence and leadership. He’s going to be a great asset. Jacolby on the outside. J Rivers, the O line – we have some experience there. … What we’re building is going to be good. Have to get some reps together – once we get that it’ll be smooth sailing come the season.”

With the returning talent plus an NFL-caliber guy behind center, the sky should be the limit for Miami this year, right?

“It’s been good since I’ve gotten here,” Ward said. “Coach Cristobal gave me, a small-town kid, the opportunity to come to the big city. It’s been good, I’m blessed, connecting with some teammates already. I look forward to the season.”

For background, the 6-2, 221-pound Ward was No. 4 in passing yards in college football last season, finishing hitting on 66.7 percent of his throws for 3,732 yards (311.0 yards per game) with 25 TDs and seven INTs (adding eight rushing scores). He threw a touchdown in every game except against Arizona, and had four TD passes vs. Northern Colorado and Oregon State. He had over 400 passing yards against Colorado State, Oregon State and at Oregon. His arm talent is unquestioned, and he’s also mobile.

Ward said with the decision to return to college instead of go pro that the locker room connection is one thing he enjoys tremendously.

“You don’t have a good locker room, you won’t have a good team,” Ward said. “This locker room is great. The guys, no one really judges anybody. This locker room is going to be one of the best locker rooms in America. In six months, seven months, get on the field, go to Gainesville and try to get a win.”

Ward said at the autograph signing event that fans were telling him “how excited they are to have me here.”

“It’s going to be a different type of football compared to last year, the past, for Canes fans,” Ward said. “We’re going to be able to throw the ball effectively, run the ball effectively, and you already know what the defense is about having (Rueben) Bain, DP (Daryl Porter, Jr.) back. I feel like we’re going to be an all-around good team. At the end of the day we have to put it together from the practices, spring ball, fall camp. I’m looking forward to it.”

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