Cam Ward is no longer heading to the NFL Draft. Instead, he’s committing to Miami, sending a jolt throughout college football Saturday evening.

Previously, Ward announced he was declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft after entering the transfer portal earlier in the cycle. However, Ward’s father did note at the time of the decision that the star quarterback would not immediately sign with an agent.

Not signing allowed Ward to maintain his eligibility, and now he’s heading to the Hurricanes:

While at Washington State, Ward served as the starter during the 2022-23 seasons, completing 65.5% of his passes for nearly 7,000 yards with 48 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He is also a true dual-threat QB with 13 rushing touchdowns across those two seasons.

Impact of Cam Ward’s decision

There’s no denying how massive getting Ward to Miami is for Mario Cristobal and the program. Without Ward, the Hurricanes were still in search of a proven presence at QB.

With Ward previously expecting to turn pro, the Canes were reportedly focusing on KJ Jefferson and Malachi Nelson. Those two players eventually wound up at UCF (Jefferson) and Boise State (Nelson) while former Oregon State starter DJ Uiagalelei transferred to rival Florida State.

Now, Miami adds Ward, a player widely regarded as one of the top QBs and overall players available this cycle. He will be a must-see piece of the Miami offense this fall.