Die Ankündigung wurde von Ward in einem kurzen Video auf X, früher Twitter genannt:
The 21-year-old from Lake Jackson, Texas, was Washington State’s starter for the past two seasons, and ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren reports that he visited the University of Miami and Florida State last month while considering possible transfer options.
Ward begann seine College-Karriere bei FCS Incarnate Word, aber nachdem er in 2021 47 Touchdowns erzielt hatte, wechselte er zu WSU.
Ward started his first season with the Cougars in 2022 with a score of 7-6, completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 3,232 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and also rushing for five scores.
Although Washington State fell back this season with a score of 5-7, Ward improved individually by completing 66.6% of his passing attempts for 3,736 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven picks. Außerdem erzielte er schnell acht Touchdowns.
While Ward was probably the most highly sought after player available in the transfer portal, programs like Miami and FSU now have to look into other options because of his decision to enter the NFL draft.
Es ist eine etwas unerwartete Entscheidung, Ward in den Draft einzubeziehen, da er Teil des Rankings ist, das für Quarterbacks typisch ist.
Es ist wahrscheinlich, dass Drake Maye aus North Carolina, Caleb Williams, der Gewinner der Heisman-Trophäe von USC im Jahr 2022 und Jayden Daniels, der Gewinner der Heisman-Trophäe von LSU im Jahr 2023, eintreten werden.
According to the BR NFL Scouting Department’s most recent 2024 NFL draft big board, released on November 29, Ward was not listed as a top-100 prospect, putting him behind Maye, Williams, Daniels, Oregon’s Bo Nix, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Georgia’s Carson Beck at least in the quarterback position.
Trotzdem haben mid-to-late-round quarterbacks in den letzten Jahren die NFL beeinflusst, einschließlich Brock Purdy, der von den San Francisco 49ers als letzten Pick in der siebten Runde der 2022 NFL-Draft ausgewählt wurde.
Darüber hinaus etablierten sich 2022-Fünftel-Pick Sam Howell und 2023-Fünftel-Pick Aidan O’Connell als Starter für die Washington Commanders und die Las Vegas Raiders dieses Jahr.
While Ward has the college production and skills to follow in their footsteps, his draft stock will likely be heavily dependent on his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine and his professional life.
