Cam Ward is in contention to go first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Miami Hurricanes quarterback’s college career began in the FCS with Incarnate Word after he was unranked out of high school.
GettyWard started the Pop-Tarts Bowl but came out of the game at halftime[/caption]
But Ward impressed with his athletic ability and arm talent to earn a spot at Washington State.
He transferred to Miami for the 2024 season and came fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy to cement his status as a first-round pick.
The Hurricanes qualified for the Pop-Tarts Bowl, where Ward secured the all-time FBS record with his 156th passing touchdown late in the first quarter.
But his controversial decision to sit the second half of a 42-41 defeat to Iowa State led to accusations he quit on his team from analysts.
Shannon Sharpe was among them and believes the 22-year-old’s draft stock may have taken a hit after the unusual decision not to finish the game having started it.
“My thing is just don’t play at all. I think scouts and pro personnel are not going to look favorably on this decision,” Sharpe said on his Nightcap podcast.
“Because they’re saying if you’re there, you took yourself out of the game.”
“I mean, you want to win the game,” added co-host Chad Johnson. “You play to win the game.
“You don’t want to leave your teammates hanging. If you’re going to start the game, you might as well finish it.”
Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal refused to elaborate on the decision, which only fuelled the fire.
GettyWard is hoping to be the first quarterback taken in the NFL Draft[/caption]
GettySharpe thinks he will regret his decision not to take the field[/caption]
“All meetings with players, and decisions like that, we made them in private, we keep them in private,” Cristobal said.
“So I’ll prefer not to answer any questions as it relates to that. But I know he played his best while he was in there.”
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah insists NFL teams will pay no attention to the events.
“I’ve been working all day, so I don’t know all the specifics but this Cam Ward dialogue seems silly,” he posted on X. “One play, one series, one half. don’t care. I would be shocked if any team moved him one spot because of it.”
Jeremiah engaged in a lively debate with fans over the issue, highlighting that Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Jayden Daniels sat out his final bowl game.
Marvin Harrison Jr. went fourth overall this year after missing his final college game and not testing at the Combine.
And San Francisco 49ers superstar Christian McCaffrey – the NFL’s highest-paid running back – doesn’t seem to have been affected by making the same decision ahead of the 2017 Draft.
“If you sat out a playoff game, you’ll get criticized. That’s totally fair,” Jeremiah added. “From an NFL standpoint, these other bowl games are glorified spring games. It is what it is.”
The New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans are all considered likely landing spots for Ward.
He will be fighting against Shedeur Sanders to be the first quarterback selected and he has been closing in on the current favorite in recent weeks.
Heisman winner Travis Hunter, who can play as a receiver or cornerback, is also in contention and the New England Patriots, who have Drake Maye under center, own the No. 1 pick ahead of the final week of matches.
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