''I'm Ready for It''
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – During his throwing session at Miami’s Pro Day last month, Cam Ward made it clear.
He was going to do his part to ensure he’d be the top pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
After making a rather impressive throw on the run that elicited more than a few whispers and even some cheers from the family and friends in attendance, the quarterback turned to where Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi and President of Football Operations Chad Brinker watched closely.
“I’m solidifying it today,” Ward said he told the Titans’ personnel of his status as the No. 1 pick. “They finally got to see me throw in person. That should be all they need to see.”
On that day – and in personal workouts and conversations since – the Titans saw plenty.
And on Thursday, Tennessee did indeed make Ward the first player taken in the draft.
In the process, the quarterback made Miami history, again.
Ward became just the third Hurricane drafted first overall, following quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who went No. 1 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 and defensive tackle Russell Maryland, who went No. 1 to the Dallas Cowboys in 1991.
As historic as the moment was, though, it was plenty emotional, too because Ward – a former zero-star recruiting prospect – had once again defied expectations.
Before he walked on stage to receive his jersey from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, television cameras captured the quarterback hugging his parents, Calvin and Patrice Ward. And in one of his first interviews after being drafted, his voice broke when he spoke about his family and his journey.
“I just always had faith,” Ward told ESPN shortly after he was selected.
That faith was rewarded Thursday night in Green Bay.
The quarterback, who had just one scholarship offer coming out of Columbia High School in West Columbia, Texas, started his college career at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
There, he quickly earned the starting job and went on to break the school’s single-season touchdown record of 24, even amidst a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He later challenged himself to continue growing by making the leap to Power Four football at Washington State where he started 25 games, completed 66 percent of his passes and totaled 6,963 yards and 48 touchdowns.
After his two seasons with the Cougars, Ward found himself at a crossroads.
Was it time to enter the NFL Draft or play one more season of college football?
He opted to return to school and did so at Miami, where he rewrote a record book already filled with the names of quarterback greats like Testaverde, Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Gino Torretta, Steve Walsh, Craig Erickson, and Ken Dorsey.
Last fall, Ward led the Hurricanes to their first 10-win season since 2017 and set new single-season school records with his 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, and 305 completions.
He went on to become a Heisman Trophy finalist, was named a consensus All-American and won both the Manning Award and the Davey O’Brien Award.
And on Thursday – the night he truly stepped into the NFL spotlight – Ward shared that he believed the decision to return to college and play a fifth year ultimately helped him get where he wanted to be.
“It was a good process. I did it on my timing,” he said. “A lot of people out there said I shouldn’t have [done] it, but at the end of the day, the only opinion of me that matters is myself. I write my own book, and I think the stuff that I went through in the past has helped put me in this position. I mean, I’m blessed. I can’t complain. I get to live and walk another day and I’m excited to be a Tennessee Titan.”
Now, the quarterback will set out to find success at the game’s highest level.
He knows it won’t be easy, and he joked that one of his biggest early challenges will be learning everyone’s names in his new locker room.
But he understands the importance of building relationships with his teammates, and he’s intent on making that a priority in Nashville, the same way he made it a priority when he arrived in Coral Gables.
“I don’t know how to describe my leadership qualities. I’m not a big rah-rah guy. But I think I hold people accountable at times when they need to be held accountable,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about are you getting better one day at a time? And it’s about creating relationships with your teammates. If you want to try and get on somebody and you’re not doing the work, it’s not going to happen overnight. So, I’m big on actually knowing the guys in the locker room, instead of just playing football with them and I think that’s helped me in my career.”
As to how he planned to celebrate his memorable night, Ward kept it simple. He said the plan was to head back to his hotel, pack his bags, get some rest and head to Nashville in the morning.
He thanked Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson for being in Green Bay with him on his special night and now, is intent on moving forward and starting his next chapter.
He knows there are expectations that come with being the top pick in the draft – especially given the fact the Titans reportedly turned down a significant trade offer from the New York Giants, who wanted the top pick themselves.
But Ward is determined to rise to the challenge – just as he already has at every stop on his football journey.
“It means a lot. It just shows how much belief [the Titans] have in me as a person and as a quarterback,” Ward said. “I’m honored. Anytime you get a chance to be a franchise quarterback, any chance you get to lead a group of guys who want to win every game is a blessing. But I’m ready for it. I’ve asked for it from God and He delivered. I’m just trying to pay my dues to it.”
