Will Cam Ward sitting out second half of bowl have an effect on his draft inventory?
Did Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward make some NFL groups increase their eyebrows when he sat by way of half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday?
Ward did not play through the second half in a 42-41 loss to Iowa State. Earlier than he exited, the QB threw the 156th TD go of his profession, setting an FBS document. He completed 12-of-19 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns.
Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal addressed the choice following the sport.
“All conferences with gamers and choices like that, we made them in non-public, we preserve them in non-public,” Cristobal mentioned, per ESPN. “So I am going to want to not reply any questions because it pertains to that. However I do know he performed his greatest whereas he was in there.”
ESPN draft professional Matt Miller thinks the selection will not have an effect on his inventory.
“I promise you zero groups care that Cam Ward solely performed a half tonight,” Miller wrote on his X account whereas watching Miami lose. “Transfer on. Nothing to see right here.”
Others will disagree with Miller’s take. Professional Soccer Speak’s Michael David Smith defined expertise evaluators might frown on Ward leaving in the course of a sport.
“Even some NFL personnel evaluators who don’t have any drawback with gamers opting out of bowls solely might have an issue with what Ward did,” wrote Smith in a chunk printed Sunday. “To play lengthy sufficient to pad your individual particular person stats, after which go away in the course of a sport whereas your teammates are combating to complete their seasons as winners, is not going to sit down proper with some within the NFL who’re contemplating whether or not to draft Ward.”
Ward possible took to the bench as a result of he did not need to endure a serious damage, which might have an effect on his draft inventory. Nonetheless, he may’ve sat out of your complete sport to keep away from a possible controversy.
Ward — a 2024 Heisman finalist — may nonetheless be one of many high picks within the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Inexperienced Bay. Based on Tankathon’s mock draft, the Tennessee Titans will take him with choose No. 4.
Nonetheless, groups might query him about his mid-game opt-out all through the draft course of.
