UH QB Ward out to prove he’s a pro receiver
INDIANAPOLIS — Growing up in Tyler, Greg Ward Jr. built a reputation as an outspoken, scrappy kid extremely determined to prove his toughness to his two older brothers.
Although he was just eight years old, Ward didn’t hesitate to jump into the fray in backyard football games and compete against much larger teenagers and adults. He loved to play wide receiver, delivering electrifying plays that foreshadowed his multidimensional football future at the University of Houston.
“Not to brag, but I remember throwing bombs to him in the end zone as a little kid and he would catch the game-winning touchdown,” said Reggie Nelson, Ward’s oldest brother from his Texas home. “I said, ‘He’s going to be special.’ He always had the competitive drive. Me and my brother, Anthony, would work on getting him tough, and it rubbed off on him. Not too sound cocky, but he’s an amazing guy.”
Now, Ward’s resolve, confidence, versatility, athleticism and skill are about to be tested at the highest level. A prolific, undersized quarterback who starred at the University of Houston after converting from wide receiver, Ward is at the NFL scouting combine and attempting to forge a niche as a slot receiver at the professional level.
An elusive runner in the open field, Ward’s understanding of coverage schemes and spacing are among his top attributes as he tries to convince NFL teams he’s capable of making a full-time transition to a position he played when he arrived on campus.
“I’m completely confident about playing receiver,” Ward said Friday at the Indiana Convention Center. “I’m an athlete. The transition won’t be too much for me. Coming from quarterback I understand coverages, holes in defenses, how to get open, how to sit down in a zone and make myself a target. I can bring my knowledge at quarterback over to receiver. I believe it will be a smooth transition.
“I see the game differently. I see it as a quarterback and as a wide receiver. I can run after the catch. I can play this position. I don’t know if people think I can run routes or catch the ball, but I know what I can do.”
Ward won’t get the opportunity to prove how his skills will translate to wide receiver at the combine. He’s still recovering from a lingering ankle injury and won’t be running the 40-yard dash, running routes or performing drills other than the bench press. Ward plans a full workout March 27 at the Cougars’ pro day.
‘Eager to watch’
Ward has already met with several teams, including the Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers.
“They give me good feedback,” said Ward, who’s represented by veteran Dallas-based agent Scott Casterline. “They tell me I’m a great athlete, a great competitor. They’re just eager to watch me.”
Ward went 28-5 as a starter, the top winning percentage in school history, engineering dramatic victories over Oklahoma, Louisville and Florida State.
Ward ranks fourth alltime in the Cougars’ record books with 8,705 career passing yards and fifth with 52 touchdown passes. He rushed for 2,375 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Ward patterns his game after shifty Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin.
“I’m working hard to perfect my craft, especially routes,” Ward said. “I’m working on getting in and out of breaks, going 0 to 60 mph, stopping on a dime, catching the ball and making people miss. That’s my cup of tea.”
Ward’s accomplishments earned him a place in the pantheon of top Houston quarterbacks, including Andre Ware, Case Keenum, Kevin Kolb and David Klingler.
Now, it’s time for Ward to try to become the latest college quarterback in the mold of former Indiana standout Antwaan Randle-El to become a fullfledged NFL wide receiver.
“I think he’ll do extremely well,” said UH coach Major Applewhite, Ward’s offensive coordinator before replacing Tom Herman when he accepted the Texas job. “He’s a little bit unique because it’s not a position he hasn’t played before. That gives him a leg up. Routes aren’t a foreign concept. It’s one thing to play quarterback. It’s another to beat man coverage, and he’s already done that. This is just a refresher course for him.
“He’s got great ability in open space. He has great hands. I’ve watched him after practice playing catch, and he’ll stab the ball with one hand or catch the ball behind his back. Being a former point guard, he has phenomenal ball skills. He has great one-cut ability. He can stick his foot in the ground and change direction to create separation. His skills, his burst, his vision, that really separates him.”
Versatile player
Although Ward was recruited as a defensive back by Tony Levine after passing for 4,202 yards and 39 touchdowns as a prep senior, he operated as a backup quarterback, receiver and punt returner as a true freshman when he passed for 310 yards and one touchdown, rushed for 176 yards and two scores and had 95 receiving yards and one score.
Ward started five games in 2014 at receiver, catching 15 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown before eventually shifting to quarterback on a full-time basis and replacing John O’Korn. Before shifting to quarterback in high school, Ward played wide receiver as a sophomore and caught 53 passes for 667 yards and eight touchdowns.
Although Ward dealt with shoulder and ankle injuries last season, he still passed for 3,557 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 581 yards and nine scores.
“Whoever drafts Greg will get a value they didn’t know they would get,” Applewhite said. “His approach, study habits, taking care of his body, being on top of his assignments are going to make him a great representative of an organization. The reason I loved coaching Greg is he’s a self-starter.
“I’ve never coached a guy who’s humbler and eager to learn the intricacies of the quarterback position. That’s why he had so much success because of his willingness to accept a leadership role. He’ll be the type of pro who devotes himself to film study, treatment and working out.”
The son of a truck driver and Pentecostal pastor, Ward has been working out with former Cowboys and San Diego Chargers wide receiver Patrick Crayton.
“I get any little tip on what can I do better,” Ward said. “Are my hands right? Are my feet right? I’m just perfecting my craft.”
What about the critics and doubters who dismiss his chances of playing receiver?
“Everybody is entitled to their own opinion,” Ward said. “I just tell them to tune in.”
‘He’s determined’
Beyond his desire to prove that he belongs in the NFL, Ward has plenty of additional motivation working in his favor. Ward has a 3-year-old daughter, Chloe.
“She means the world to me,” Ward said. “Her smile makes me light up. I’m doing everything to give her a great life.”
The third-youngest of his four brothers, including Reggie, 29, Anthony, 26, and Jamarion, 15, the 21-year-old Ward makes his siblings very proud.
“It was always his dream to make it to the NFL combine and get drafted,” Nelson said. “This is a dream come true. Watching him, it’s a blessing and a wonderful feeling. He’s a great dad. He’s a hard worker, and he’s determined to make it big.”