Cardinals QB Ward goes from the wing to the air
Top FCS freshman fits with offense on the fly
As the quarterback in a Wing-t offense at Columbia High, Cam Ward often had just one receiver to read. If the target wasn’t open, Ward could only run the ball or throw it away.
When he enrolled at Incarnate Word last fall and stepped into an air raid system that offered four or five options on each play, Ward said he carried a mentality that he had plenty to learn but nothing to lose.
His college career began during an unprecedented year, as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed UIW’S Southland Conference schedule to the spring. With practices divided to limit personto-person contact, Ward took hold of his own unit as the thirdstring quarterback, experiencing how the routes fit together and what makes the attack click.
Motivated by the opportunity to finally be in a passing offense, Ward became known for organizing throwing sessions with UIW’S receivers and for sneaking extra film review during study hall.
Ward said he needed about a month to start to understand the offense. By December, he had supplanted two-year starter Jon Copeland as the team’s No. 1 quarterback. And after racking up a program-record and Fcsleading 24 touchdown passes in just six games, Ward on Monday was named the winner of the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, given to the national freshman of the year.
“It just shows if you work hard, you can do anything you want to accomplish,” Ward said.
Ward’s powerful arm and 6foot-3, 225-pound frame made him a standout during a summer camp at UIW in 2019, prompting coach Eric Morris to recruit a player who said he held no other committable offers.
Morris said Ward’s high school tape showed no signs he could process an up-tempo, complex offense at a high level. But from Ward’s first snaps against a live defense a few weeks into practice, he displayed an understanding of the terminology and an aptitude to communicate it.
Morris continued to put more on his plate, and Ward proved up to the task — a jump Morris called “remarkable” given Ward’s high school experience.
“It’s awesome when you see a kid put in hard work and some of those benefits come to fruition,” Morris said. “I’m so proud of the way he’s progressed in such a short amount of time.”
Ward said his understanding of the moving parts fueled his ability to improvise, and he proved adept at creating something positive from plays that seemed stifled.
He racked up 376.7 yards per game on 60.4 percent completions with just four interceptions this season, using his arm strength and adjustable release angles to create unconventional passing lanes.
“I like off-balance throws, and throwing across the body. I love doing that,” Ward said. “No one does it, defense doesn’t cover the back side, so why not do it? That’s how I think when I play.”
Ward said he didn’t step into a leadership role until he was named the starter. He’s not always the most vocal presence, but he said he looks for opportunities to calm his teammates’ nerves with a joke on the sideline.
As Ward began to produce on the field, Morris saw the Cardinals gravitate to him. Morris said Ward never backed down from challenging situations, sparking his teammates with his resolve following missteps.
“He looks me in the eye and says, ‘Coach, it won’t happen again. Keep the ball in my hand, and let’s go make some plays,’ ” Morris said. “He kept coming back. Even on mistakes, he kept coming back. He realizes he’s not perfect, but the competitive factor is always there.”
Morris said Ward’s first words at their year-end exit meeting were, “Hey coach, I’m ready to get to work. I want more.”
A shot to play in the NFL is something Ward said he thinks about every day, and he believes the next steps in his development are becoming more vocal, improving his identification of defenses and refining his footwork.
Looking back on some of the standouts he coached during six seasons as the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech and two years as a low-level assistant at Houston, Morris said Ward has the study habits of Case Keenum, the confidence of Baker Mayfield and the raw arm talent and adaptability of Patrick Mahomes.
If Ward follows his current trajectory, Morris believes 32 pro teams will someday flock to UIW to see his pro day in person.
“I definitely think there’s a spot for him down the road to be able to play on Sundays, if he keeps progressing,” Morris said.
The path has already been charted. The previous Jerry Rice Award winner, Trey Lance of North Dakota State, was selected No. 3 overall in last week’s NFL Draft.
Still, Ward’s honor comes during a unique year for college athletics. With the NCAA granting all players an additional year of eligibility in response to COVID-19, Ward can potentially play four more seasons. And, with a onetime transfer rule going into effect this fall, he has the option to do so at any program.
Morris said he understands that other schools will try to “poach” Ward, but he falls back on his strong relationship with Ward and his family, as well as his pedigree of helping produce pro quarterbacks.
Ward said he had no regrets about sticking in a Wing-t offense at Columbia rather than searching for a better opportunity, and he hasn’t considered a transfer out of UIW, either. He said the campus “feels like I’ve been here my whole life,” he’s close enough to home that his family can see him play, and he feels a bond with Morris — the only coach to offer him a scholarship.
“I never thought about leaving,” Ward said. “I’m a big person on loyalty, and Coach Morris is the only person who has shown it to me since Day One. So, I’m just going to ride it out with him.”