Cameron Ward has flown somewhat under the national radar thus far in 2023. It’s getting harder to ignore what the Washington State quarterback is doing in Pullman, both from a college football perspective and in regard to the 2024 NFL draft.
Ward, a 6-foot-2 junior, is in his second season as the Cougars starter after transferring from FCS-level Incarnate Word. In Saturday’s win over Oregon State in a matchup of two top-20 teams. Ward flashed a lot of the skills that have kept him on the periphery of the top QBs in the class.
In the 38-35 home win, Ward completed 28 of his 34 pass attempts, netting 404 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for another.
This is the second offensive play of the game. Talk about coming out hot…
That’s a 55-yard air throw that’s perfectly on the money. Ward’s throwing platform looks optimal here, and he had the patience to wait on the route to develop and the coverage to commit. Many quarterbacks will rush this throw and lead the coverage to the receiver, but Ward deftly avoids that mistake.
He did make some mistakes, alas. One of them is especially problematic: a fumble created because of the insecure way Ward carries the ball. He got stripped by a Beavers defender who had no business making any play here:
Good quarterbacks can quickly put mistakes behind them, and Ward showed that skill. Just before halftime, his growth as a passer and decision-maker shone. On this play, Ward buys some time with his agility but keeps the eyes up. He’s rewarded with an easy TD strike.
In 2022, Ward likely would have tried to run that in himself, or force the throw earlier. His maturation to stay patient in situations like this is very impressive. This is only his third year of starting at QB in an offense that throws, and he’s clearly grown in his processing and ability to read the defense.
Ward primarily uses a delivery that’s three-quarters; it’s not sidearm, nor is it over the top. It can look awkward on shorter throws, almost like he’s pushing a dart instead of throwing a football. However, he’s accurate and the ball comes out very quickly. Ward can also alter his platform and mechanics. He resets quickly on the move, as well.
Overall, this was a nice NFL audition tape for Ward if he chooses to declare for the 2024 draft. While Wazzou runs a QB-friendly system, Ward appears to have the physical and mental traits to transcend just being a “system” quarterback.
