Editor’s Note: This story was originally published after Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Camward is ready to bring his game-changing talent to Titan
Check out the highlights of Miami QB Camward after being drafted by Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Camward approached NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on a draft night, he flashed the smile worthy of someone who beat the odds after starting his college career at a school that had never been drafted into the NFL.
Yes, Ward played his final college season in Miami, but his early college days began in front of 6,000 people on game days as a new student in San Antonio incarnation vocabulary. Still, Zero Star’s high school prospects never lacked self-confidence, despite his lonely words.
“I’ve been dreaming since I was a little kid,” Ward said after being chosen. “I had a greater desire than it’s a draft topic. I think I just want more of it. I have real love for the game of soccer. I believe that if you’re working hard with God on your side, many can take care of yourself.”
After two relocations and five college seasons, Ward saw his lifelong goals come to fruition on Thursday, when the Tennessee Titans were selected No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward, 22, initially declared for the 2024 draft, but reversed his decision after receiving feedback that he would become a medium pick. For the past year he has led to frustration and embraced who he is, so he stood next to Goodell and lifted his Titans jersey on Thursday night, and he was a place he has always been.
Ward passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns last season. Both are records for the Miami single season. He also won the Davy O’Brien Award, given to the country’s top quarterback, finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy vote.
Currently, Titan maintains the bank on ward’s playmaking abilities and leadership to become the next franchise quarterback. Tennessee’s belief in the ward has been strong enough to turn down a trade offer from the New York Giants, including this year’s third pick, a 2026 first round choice and several other picks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“If you identify a quarterback for a franchise, I don’t think there’s really a price you can pay for that,” said Mike Borgonzi, the Titans general manager. “It’s the most important position in all sports. He’s a young quarterback and he still has a lot to do, but he’s intangible with him, his work ethic, he wants to be better, I think we were happy with it.”
Ward predicted him His future success when he graduated from Columbia High School in West Columbia, Texas. Despite averaging 12-pass attempts per game from the Wing-T offense in high school, Ward believed he would become a freshman starting quarterback in reincarnated terms, despite incumbent starter Jon Copeland just passing a singleseason program for 3,341 yards in 2019.
“All I needed was a chance to play in a quarterback-led system,” Ward said at the NFL Combine in February.
That’s where coach Eric Morris came out in a flying attack. Ward passed 2,260 yards and 24 touchdowns leading the FCS in six games during the Covid-shot season. He also won the Jerry Rice Award. This was given to the best FCS freshmen.
“He was always confident and had a natural tip on his shoulder,” said Ward’s cousin Quandre Diggs, who played Titan’s safety last season. “That’s because he’s working so hard. I could see it from a young age.”
At Incarnate Word, Ward was featured in personal quarterbacks, Darrell Colbert Jr., a former quarterback at SMU and Lamar University. Colbert’s work with Ward’s cousin Chiron Drone, who plays quarterback at Virginia Tech, stood out against Ward’s father, Calvin, so Calvin sought Colbert’s services to help Ward take his game to the next level.
Colbert became Ward’s personal quarterback coach after his freshman season and has been working with him ever since.
“He helped me get back on track where I wanted to be in football,” Ward told Combine. “He taught me to win from the pocket.”
Two seasons at Incarnate Word, Ward transferred to Washington State to follow Morris, who was appointed offensive coordinator for the Cougars. During his two-year career at WSU, Ward completed 65.5% of his passes for 6,698 yards and 48 touchdowns, making him an honorable mention of the All-PAC-12 team in 2022 and 2023.
“This is the kid I always believed he was in this situation because I knew him,” Colbert told ESPN.
After careful considerationWard ended up in Miami at a school like Florida, gaining commitment from DJ Uiagalelei. Ward consulted with his parents and agents while he was heavily employed by Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson.
Ward’s presence was immediately felt – since 2017, lifting Miami into its first 10-win season.
Miami’s 39-38 in the CAL in Week 6 was won from a California victory. 21-10, with Miami’s defense, the CAL forced the punt in the first series after halftime. When Miami took over the offense, California defensive back Knoll Williams returned 40 yards for a touchdown and then returned it.
Cal forced the Ward and the Hurricanes offense to punt in the next series, then ran for 80 yards to the end zone on five plays, scoring 35-10 in just two minutes in the third quarter.
“We played Cal and there were some bad plays,” Ward said. “But I was able to get back on track and play a few more games in the second half.
Despite being a pick 6, Ward never wavered. He told his teammates he couldn’t score 25 points on one drive and he needed to take that on every play. They put together three consecutive touchdown drives. Each covered at least 70 yards and pulled Miami within one score.
Miami took over at 1:28 on the 8-yard line. On the first play, Ward calmly hangs in his pocket and finds wide receiver Xavier Restrepo in the middle of the field for a 77-yard completion. Ward connected with tight end Elijah Arroyo and played for a Go-Ahead touchdown a few times later. Miami’s scoring drive covered 92 yards and left 26 seconds on the clock.
“He’s a very confident person,” Restrepo told ESPN. “It’s a very important feature, like a quarterback. I’ve never seen anyone come inside the building and change it in his way.”
Ward was considered a top QB prospect in the consensus when dust settled down from the season, according to ESPN’s draft analysts, but there were mixed feelings between him and Colorado’s Shedure Sanders in Scouts. However, Ward shared a public message with the team.
“If you don’t draft me, it’s your fault,” Ward said. “You have to remember that you are on the same team that you have to play me for the rest of my career. I remember that.”
During Miami’s Pro Day, Ward rolled out to the left, down the field for over 50 yards and fired a pass, heading towards the waiting arm of the Rectrepo. Titans team presidents Chad Blinker and Borgonzi happened to be bystanders that Ward unfolded.
“We’re solidifying it today,” Ward told Blinker and Borgonzi.
“It was a cool moment,” Blinker said. “Cam, he’s confident. But I don’t say he’s cheeky. There’s a fine line between them and he’s carrying himself the right way.”
“You can feel confident,” Borgonzi said after choosing the ward. “It’s not sassy or rog arrogant, but there’s the confidence that you need as a player and a quarterback.”
After averaging only 18.3 points last season, the Titans leaned towards the ward and led an offensive comeback under manager Brian Callahan. At last year’s quarterback, Levis and Mason Rudolph combined for 3,621 yards, 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Titans know their future depends on upgrading in positions, but Ward needs to win it on the field. It all starts with Ward looking into the eyes of the other 10 guys in the Huddle and making him believe he can turn things around.
Ward admitted that he is not a “Lara” type player in the combine. He instead pointed out his self-motivation and confidence in line with his lead’s exemplary approach. Ward believes that the unconventional path he traveled is something other players can’t bring to the franchise.
“It’s a leadership ability and how he can make the people around him better,” Callahan said. “There are many people who can play positions, but transcendent people have unique abilities to connect with their teammates and raise the level of everyone around him.
