NFL Draft prospect Cam Ward opting to pull himself out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl in the second half of the game turned out to be a controversial move when the Miami Hurricanes lost to the Iowa State Cyclones 42-41 on Saturday.
Fans were amused to see backup Emory Williams leading from the pocket while a healthy Ward was watching the game from the sidelines. Top NFL analysts like Todd McShay got critical of this move and shared their opinions on X.
NFL Analyst Makes Opinion About Cam Ward Extremely Clear
Top prospects entering the draft often refuse to play in postseason bowl games due to injury scares. However, Ward’s decision to suit up excited many until the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
“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. I’m a realist. I know the climate. I’m not even knocking Cam here. It’s just different,” McShay said in an X post after the game on Saturday.
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.
I’m a…
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) December 28, 2024
As far as the first half is concerned, Ward was brilliant on the field, completing 12 of his 19 passes for 190 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
He broke the NCAA Division I record for most career touchdowns with 158 and led Miami to a respectable 31-28 lead at halftime. However, things went south in the second half, and Iowa State clinched a 42-41 victory.
In the postgame press conference, when asked about Ward’s decision, head coach Mario Cristobal refused to give away anything.
“I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we keep them in private and keep them in private,” Cristobal said, per Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun Sentinel via Bleacher Report. “So I’ll prefer not to answer questions as it relates to that. I know he played his best while he was in there,” Cristobal added.
Ward’s 2025 NFL Draft Projection
In his latest mock draft, Alex Kennedy of Pro Football Network has Ward going No. 4 overall to the Tennessee Titans. Given Will Levis’ recent struggles, it’s very possible that the Titans place their bet on Ward.
As Mason Rudolph happens to be Tennessee’s only option on the QB depth chart, Ward’s arrival could put an end to its hunt for a franchise quarterback. If the Columbia standout continues to perform with the same momentum, he could become an unstoppable force in the NFL.