Potential top draft pick Cam Ward said he plans to “remember” any team that chooses to pᴀss on selecting him at the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
The warning came just before he won the Davey O’Brien Award given to the nation’s top college quarterback and in response to a question about his decision not to play the entire game for Miami at the Pop-Tart Bowl.
The Hurricanes lost 42-41 to Iowa State in the relatively meaningless bowl game and Ward was criticized for coming out of the game in the second half.
Ward said Monday that he would answer any team’s questions about it during next week’s NFL combine, but forewarned any team that ends up pᴀssing on him does so at their own peril.
“OK, you’re either going to draft me or you’re not,” the QB told the ᴀssociated Press. “If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault. You’ve got to remember you’re the same team that’s got to play me for the rest of my career, and I’ll remember that.”
Ward threw for three touchdowns in the first half of the Pop-Tart Bowl and surpᴀssed Case Keenum’s Division I record of 156 career touchdown pᴀsses before sitting out the second half, but remained on the sideline to support his teammates.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal defended Ward in the wake of the criticism and Ward said the decision was made in consultation with the Hurricanes coaching staff.
“I just think we all got what we needed out of it. They seen things that they think they need to work on … for this season coming up. And they also knew, you know, what I had on the line,” Ward said. “We feel like we’re doing what’s best for the program and myself. I mean, it was a hard decision, especially when, you know, some guys on our team didn’t play who I thought should have played. It was also, you know, those guys thought about their future the same way I thought about mine.”
It’s unclear what Ward’s plan is for the combine, but he will throw at Miami’s pro day.
He’s expected to go somewhere high in the draft – potentially No. 1 overall – with the тιтans, Browns and Giants all in need of a QB.
The Post’s Steve Serby has him going No. 1 to Tennesse in his latest mock draft.
Colorado stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter and Penn State’s Abdul Carter are all possibilities to go high in the draft as well, which could set the stage for one or two of those teams falling in the crosshairs of a vengeful Ward once he begins his NFL career.
