One of the most glaring issues that Miami football has faced over the last two decades—and there have been many—has been a lack of quarterback production. There hasn’t been consistent quarterback play in Coral Gables since Ken Dorsey, the last Hurricanes quarterback to be named to the Heisman Trophy ballot. And, with Tyler Van Dyke leaving Miami after three seasons, the Hurricanes are once again left with a void at the position.
To be sure, Van Dyke was a part of the problem, despite being thought to be part of the solution just two seasons ago. Van Dyke filled in for D’Eriq King after the Houston transfer was injured during the 2021 season under offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and then-head coach Manny Diaz. Van Dyke thrived, and by the end of the 2021 season, he was on early Heisman Trophy watch lists for the following season.
Van Dyke is trading in his orange and green for other colors two seasons later, plagued by injuries, inconsistencies, and turnover proneness, leaving Mario Cristobal and Miami football with only sophomore Emory Williams—a career two-game starter who was injured in the Florida State game—and junior Jacurri Brown next year.
Miami football requires immediate assistance at quarterback.
While Williams performed admirably in the Hurricanes’ wins over Clemson and Florida State this season, he is far from the quarterback the Hurricanes require to advance. That leaves the transfer portal, which Cristobal has used extensively since arriving in Miami to address some pressing needs over the last two seasons.
Fortunately for Cristobal, this time around there is a plethora of talented quarterbacks in the portal, including Duke’s Riley Leonard, Washington State’s Cam Ward, Mississippi State’s Will Rogers, Kansas State’s Will Howard, Ohio State’s Kyle McCord, Oregon State’s DJ Uiagalelei, and UCLA’s Dante Moore, among others.
However, it appears that Miami football is already making moves. According to Ross Dellenger, Howard was scheduled to visit Miami on Monday and Ward on Tuesday. So, consider why either of these quarterbacks would be a good fit for the Hurricanes.
Cam Ward, Washington State quarterback
Cam Ward, a dynamic quarterback with a proven track record, brings a distinct combination of pro-style passing and dual-threat abilities. Ward completed an impressive 65.5 percent of his pass attempts at Washington State, accumulating 6,968 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in two seasons. Ward’s ability to contribute in the running game with 202 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns adds an additional dimension to his skill set. His experience at both FCS school Incarnate Word and Wazzou would be beneficial to the Hurricanes.
Ward completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 3,736 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2023. Miami would be getting not only a quarterback with impressive stats, but also a player who was named Pac-12 Honorable Mention in both 2022 and 2023. Ward’s familiarity with Miami middle linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, a former Washington State teammate, could make the transition to the Hurricanes easier.
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