While Cam Ward decided to suit up for the Miami Hurricanes against the Iowa State in the Pop Tart Bowl, he sat out the second half. This drew plenty of criticism from fans and analysts, who hoped to see the top 2025 NFL Draft prospect for the entirety of the game.
Cam Ward Criticized For Sitting Out Second Half of Pop Tart Bowl
Iowa State defeated Miami, 42-41, in the Pop Tart Bowl. When Ward exited the game, he had completed 12 of 19 passes for 190 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Ward was playing really well, so there’s a strong case to be made that the Hurricanes would have won the game if he continued playing.
Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal was asked about the decision to sit Ward after the game, but he didn’t provide much insight into the decision.
“I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we make them in private and we keep them in private. So I’ll prefer not to answer questions as it relates to that,” Cristobal said. “I know he played his best while he was in there.”
I asked Mario Cristobal about how he and Cam Ward came to the decision for Ward to play one half. Here is the full quote.
I don't believe Cam Ward has discussed why he opted to play in the bowl game. He has not been made available to local media since the Syracuse game. pic.twitter.com/lkKxwCZK5x
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) December 29, 2024
Immediately, Ward started getting criticized for his decision to sit out the second half.
“I appreciate that Cam Ward, in this day and age in CFB, played at all. But I just can’t imagine starting any game with teammates, especially as a quarterback, and electing to pull myself out while my teammates are still trying to finish the job in a back-and-forth battle,” said NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay. “I’m a realist. I know the climate. I’m not even knocking Cam here. It’s just different.”
“What a mess,” said NFL Network Ian Rapoport. “College coaches do their players such a disservice by hiding them. I think Cam Ward would be OK, somehow, by addressing this.”
What a mess. College coaches do their players such a disservice by hiding them. I think Cam Ward would be OK, somehow, by addressing this. https://t.co/kpf1Tad6d1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2024
However, Ward hasn’t talked to the media since Nov. 30 when Miami lost to Syracuse, as Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun Sentinel noted.
It’s worth noting that some analysts defended Ward. Former Heisman Trophy winner and current analyst Robert Griffin III was one person standing up for the top prospect.
“Same people criticizing Cam Ward for sitting out the 2nd half of the Pop Tarts Bowl, would be saying how dumb it was for him to play if he got hurt,” RGIII said. “He didn’t have to play AT ALL. Instead he gave us a half of jaw dropping plays. Stop villainizing these student athletes.”
Same people criticizing Cam Ward for sitting out the 2nd half of the Pop Tarts Bowl, would be saying how dumb it was for him to play if he got hurt. He didn’t have to play AT ALL. Instead he gave us a half of jaw dropping plays. Stop villainizing these student athletes.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 29, 2024
While this isn’t a good look for Ward, he is still expected to be one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I would be shocked if any team moved him one spot because of it,” Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network said.
I’ve been working all day, so I don’t know all the specifics but this Cam Ward dialogue seems silly. One play, one series, one half…don’t care. I would be shocked if any team moved him one spot because of it.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) December 29, 2024
Ward has established himself as one of the top QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft with an impressive season in Miami.
The playmaking QB had already displayed his creation capacity and big-play potential, but with the ‘Canes, he’s improved his leadership, accuracy, and ball security.
Ward is undeniably talented, making some of the hardest throws look effortless. His elite composite arm talent allows him to layer passes into incredibly tight windows. He’s a danger as a passer from any platform, inside or outside of structure, and his arm elasticity is perfectly attuned to the modern game.
Ward is a high-level problem solver in chaotic situations, with the combined malleability, as an athlete and a thrower, and the improvisational feel to make something out of nothing.
But often in the past, he relied on that creation capacity to a fault because of other deficiencies.
In, he showed progression as a pocket operator and field general. Ward is operating more frequently pre-snap, and he’s playing with more decisiveness and efficiency on multiple levels.