"One offer could change your life": $1.9M NIL-valued Cam Ward looks back at high school struggles & glory after winning over Miami

By Aman Sharma

Modified Oct 05, 2024 17:56 GMT

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Cam Ward’s journey from obscurity to stardom proves that sometimes, one opportunity is all it takes to change a life. Now valued at $1.9 million in NIL deals, the Miami Hurricanes quarterback wasn’t always in the spotlight.

During his time at Columbia High School, Ward faced limited exposure. Playing in the Wing T offense, he attempted just 12 passes per game as a senior. He only received one scholarship offer — to play at the University of the Incarnate Word.

“If I could do it all over again, I would,” Ward told ESPN. “It’s been tough, but it’s also been rewarding. I know as soon as I get on the field, I can let the play do the talking. One offer could change your life, it changed mine."

During two seasons at Incarnate Word, he threw for 6,908 yards and helped lead his team to a conference championship in 2021. Feeling ready for a higher level of competition, he transferred to Washington State in 2022, determined to prove himself at the FBS level.

"I think I proved that I could play at the power five level, at least to myself, what I really want to do. And I was being, you know, a winning quarterback."

Cam Ward put up impressive stats at Washington State, throwing for nearly 7,000 yards over two seasons. However, his team’s record stood at 12-13, leaving Ward hungry for more success. Initially, he entered the transfer portal, then declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, where he was projected to go on day two or three.

"I took it personal. I tell myself every day that I'm this s**t. So I wake up and I tell myself I'm the best player in the country every day. And I really stand by that. I would say physically I was ready for that next step to make it to the NFL. But at the end of the day, I truly did want to come back to play college football just because I haven't won."

Cam Ward’s determination turns high school struggles into Miami glory

As a sophomore at the University of the Incarnate Word, he threw for 4,648 yards, 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, earning him the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year. After this stellar season, Ward decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

On January 10, 2022, he committed to Washington State where he passed successfully 64.4% of his passes for 3,231 yards, 23 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He also made the rushing for five more touchdowns.

Despite his solid performance, Ward entered the transfer portal again on December 1, 2023, eventually declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Cam Ward plays with what he calls "controlled aggression," driven by the challenges he faced in high school recruiting.

"I do play with a lot of hate in my heart just because of what I had to go through since high school, recruiting-wise, knowing I was better than a lot of other quarterbacks out here. I'm just a big person on speaking into existence."

His Miami stint has only strengthened his resolve.

"I was raised to be confident in yourself. If you don't have confidence in yourself, nobody's gonna be confident in you. I'm the quarterback of the University of Miami, one of the best football teams in the country right now. I wouldn't trade this position for nothing."

In his 2024 season with the Hurricanes, Cam Ward led the team to a 5-0 start, completing 70.2% of his passes for 1,782 yards, 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.