Ward hops prominent QB in draft evaluation; analyst sizes him up. And UM snap count news
A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Tuesday:
▪ The Canes haven’t had a quarterback drafted in the first three rounds this century. That will assuredly change next April.
With a sterling start to the season, Cam Ward’s NFL stock has skyrocketed. Originally projected as a potential third-rounder, Ward is now widely considered a top-15 pick, possibly a top-five selection.
ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Jordan Reid both moved Ward ahead of Georgia’s Carson Beck in their quarterback rankings in recent days.
Kiper has Ward third among draft eligible quarterbacks, behind Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. Kiper ranks Beck fourth, one slot behind Ward, and Texas’ Quinn Ewers fifth.
Overall, Kiper ranks Ward 15th among all pro prospects.
Meanwhile, Reid ranks Ward behind only Sanders among draft-eligible QBs.
Reid notes Ward “can throw from multiple arm slots and generate velocity with ease no matter the positioning of his body, similar to a shortstop maneuvering the infield… What has been most impressive this season is Ward’s poise and calm demeanor. He has been at his best in the biggest moments.
“He orchestrated comebacks against Virginia Tech and Cal, which included 238 passing yards in the fourth quarter alone in the win over the Golden Bears. Based on how scouts are talking about Ward’s play, he has a chance to be the first QB off the board in the 2025 class.”
But Reid notes Ward’s penchant for sometimes trying to do too much instead of necessarily taking what’s open and available.
“He has times where he has to scratch his itch for reckless plays, and it leaves you asking, ‘What the heck was he thinking there?’” an AFC area scout told Reid. “I like him and don’t know if that can be coached out of him.”
Reid said: “Where Ward is a work in progress is in controlling careless plays and head-scratching decisions outside of structure that lead to turnovers. He still has moments in which he goes for a highlight-reel play, with his pick-six against Cal being a prime example.
“Scouts also want to see Ward improve in getting the ball out quicker. His 2.90-second average time before pass ranks 103rd in the FBS. He has a habit of looking off open options in the short-to-intermediate areas of progressions to search for explosive plays.”
Ward, to his credit, acknowledges during film review when he’s being too aggressive and taking unnecessary risks.
“He wants to make every play,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said Monday. “When you’re watching tape with him, [when] there’s something that goes wrong, he will make a comment. He’s very critical of himself. That’s why I don’t have to be overly critical, because he knows.”
When Ward and Dawson watch tape, and Ward sees something that he could have done better, “the word he uses is ‘pain,’” Dawson said. “‘That’s pain, coach.’ Everyone has room for improvement… His mentality is positive all the time.”
▪ Excluding offensive linemen and quarterbacks, the UM players who have played the most snaps, on offense, midway through the regular season are, in order, receiver Xavier Restrepo (342), receiver Sam Brown (271), tight end Elijah Arroyo (261), receiver Isaiah Horton (227), receiver Jacolby George (218), running back Damien Martinez (194) and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (137).
▪ The players who have played the most snaps, on defense: safety Mishael Powell (326), linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (298), cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. (278), safety Jaden Harris (276), linebacker Wesley Bissainthe (261), defensive end Tyler Baron (248), cornerback Jadais Richard (242), cornerback OJ Frederique (223), defensive end Akheem Mesidor (215) and cornerback Dyoni Hill (212).
▪ Snap counts of natural freshmen on offense, through half the schedule:
Tight end Elija Lofton (87 offensive snaps), running back Jordan Lyle (68), offensive lineman Nino Francavilla (53), receiver JoJo Trader (43), receiver Ny Carr (31), receiving Chance Robinson (27), running back Chris Johnson (25), running back Chris Wheatley-Humphrey (1) and quarterback Judd Anderson (1).
▪ Snap counts of natural freshmen on defense, through half the schedule: Frederique (223 defensive snaps, eighth-most among all UM defensive players), defensive tackle Justin Scott (57), safety Zaquan Patterson (48), edge player Cole McConathy (34), defensive lineman Armondo Blount (22), linebacker Cam Pruitt (17), edge player Booker Pickett (12), linebacker Adarius Hayes (7), safety Dylan Day (6), edge player Marquise Lightfoot (5) and edge player Elias Rudolph (4).
Many of those players likely won’t play in more than four games, thus allowing UM to redshirt them.
Mario Cristobal, speaking in general about young players on Joe Rose’s WQAM show this week, said: “Coaches have to develop players; you have to throw them out there... You have some sitdowns and one-on-ones and say`Listen, you weren’t brought here to stand on the sideline beside me. You have to get it done.’ And you create healthy competition, the right kind of competition.”
▪ Veterans who haven’t played a lot on defense include Louisville transfer linebacker Jaylin Alderman (76 snaps), safety Markieth Williams (70), linebacker Chase Smith (49), Middle Tennessee transfer defensive tackle Marley Cook (48), defensive lineman Anthony Campbell (33), cornerback Robert Stafford (27), defensive lineman Joshua Horton (25) and cornerback Damari Brown (a starter who has been limited to 14 snaps because of injury).
Robby Washington, the former receiver who has moved to cornerback, has played 13 snaps on defense.
His brother, linebacker Bobby Washington, has played seven snaps on defense.
Star defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. has been limited to 51 snaps because of an injury in the opener; he returned for the win against California.
Veterans who haven’t played a lot on offense include second-year five-star tackle Samson Okunlola (62), receiver Ray Ray Joseph (42), left guard Ryan Rodriguez (won the left guard job, but an injury has limited him to 38 snaps), running back Ajay Allen (33), receiver Shemar Kirk (22) and tight end Jackson Carver (7).
As noted here Monday, Allen leads UM running backs in average yards after contact.
This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 11:58 AM.
