Fire Starter: Cameron Ward, QB, Washington State

First Round Mock’s William Yanish ends up giving Washington State quarterback (QB) Cameron Ward a relatively high grade.

For the first time in a long time, the PAC-12 has some of the biggest-name QBs in the nation heading toward the 2024 NFL Draft. USC’s Caleb Williams, Oregon’s Bo Nix, and Utah’s Cameron Rising, just to name a few.

Washington State University also seems to have found their man in Ward.

Background

He’s a 6-foot-1, 223-pound transfer from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

With hours of film flying by, I thought that I had a pretty good feel for who Ward was as a player. That was until Jimmy Kimmel’s L.A. Bowl versus the QB Jake Haener-led Fresno State Bulldogs. What I witnessed was a 29-6 beatdown.

Everyone has a bad day now and then, but damn. Ward put up 137 yards passing and an interception while taking six sacks. That can’t be much fun, but that’s not what bothered me though. It was his desire to win that came into question. I had to look deeper.

The Yanish Report

Thick, athletic build. Stays on his toes with nice, fluid footwork. Solid mechanically. Arm strength is not over the top. Enough field vision to operate the air-raid offense. Progressions are smooth, but he has an affinity to hit his first read often. Tendency to hold onto the ball too long and take unnecessary sacks. Fluid, compact release. Throws off-platform with decent results. Short to intermediate throws make for a majority of his targets. Seems comfortable at these ranges. Accuracy and ball placement get more questionable the further he pushes down the field. Pass-oriented QB. Dynamic runner. Scrambling and escapability is on-point. Climbs and navigates the pocket well. A patient runner that will juke some of the best defenders. Has decent football IQ. Good leadership abilities. Needs to show more of a sense of urgency when down on the scoreboard.

For the win

Coming out of high school, Ward was a zero-star recruit with exactly one offer from a Division 1 school. You guessed it, Incarnate Word. That alone qualifies as adversity. He is a small school kid that just keeps rolling with the punches like it ain’t no thang.

Now, he’s in the most QB-stacked conference in college football.

Ward’s physical skills are no doubt worthy of the next level. Although, physical abilities can only take him so far. What lies inside Cameron Ward is what matters. That’s the question.

Hence, my grade that’s sitting just outside of the big stage.

True competitors show up no matter if the competition does or not. They don’t care who they are playing, or what they are playing for. The fire inside them burns constantly. They are playing to win. That is what separates them from the rest.

In Ward’s second season at Washington State, it’s his time to shine. He has got to stand up and show that he can hang with the big boys. All eyes will be on the PAC-12 and on who emerges victorious.

The show this year will be out west.

My BIG three questions

1. Can he show that he belongs in the first-round conversation?

2. Will he take the next step as a competitor at Washington State and win a bowl game?

3. Can he display more consistency on the field?

How Ward stacks up and game film reviewed

My 2024 NFL Draft Value: Second-Round

2022 Game Film Evidence

2022 (Jersey No. 1)

Utah

Washington

USC

Fresno State LA Bowl

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.