Hurricanes star Cam Ward misses out on Heisman Trophy

Cam Ward was honored as the nation’s top quarterback on Thursday, winning the Davey O’Brien Trophy. But simply being the best quarterback in the country was not enough to secure the sport’s top honor: the Heisman Trophy.

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter won the prestigious award. Ward finished in fourth place, behind Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Ward is the first Miami player to be a Heisman finalist since quarterback Ken Dorsey and running back Willis McGahee were honored in 2002.

“You’ve just got to have elite confidence in yourself, in your teammates, and you’ve got to have faith in God,” Ward said in an interview with ESPN. “My family, they’ve gotten to this point, just putting me in position to play football throughout high school, sending me to camps all over the country. I remember my dad would email D-3, D-2 coaches, and none of them would respond to him.”

Ward transferred from Washington State to Miami last winter and had arguably the best season by a quarterback in program history. He set UM single-season records in passing yards (4,123) and passing touchdowns (36). He was one of only two 4,000-yard passers this season, trailing only Syracuse’s Kyle McCord. He led the nation in touchdown passes.

Ward was named the ACC Player of the Year by the conference and the conference’s offensive player of the year by the AP.

Ward’s next stop is the NFL, and he is confident he will continue to succeed at the next level.

“I think (my game) translate just fine,” Ward said. The biggest thing, I think, that I continue to get better at is winning from the pocket. I showed that throughout college I showed that extraordinarily this year. If you look at the players who can make off-platform plays like Pat (Mahomes), like Caleb (Williams). Jayden Daniels can. Drake Maye, he’s good. I think a lot of quarterbacks nowadays are going to have to an easy transition to the NFL because they played a lot of college football”

Ward is projected to be a high first-round draft pick in next year’s NFL draft.

“It’s a blessing especially to be in this position,” Ward said. “The journey I had to solidify myself as one of the best quarterbacks in college and potentially get to the NFL, it’s all God. The teammates that I have around me, they helped me put myself in this position. We all made plays. Me projected to go that high is something I don’t take lightly. I have a chip on my shoulder that’ll never leave.”