Miami's Mario Cristobal Praises Star Transfer, Says He Has 'Helped Us Evolve'

Every preseason, there is a small list of college football teams that make rankings and previews as those to watch in the coming season. For the 2024 season, one of those teams is the Miami Hurricanes.

The Canes had one of the best offseasons in recent memory, besting a number of teams for high school recruits and transfers entering the portal. They bring in the No. 6 ranked overall class in the country, boosted by the No. 10 ranked transfer group. It's their second top-10 class in the last two seasons.

Miami has had better-ranked transfer classes under head coach Mario Cristobal, but perhaps none could have a greater impact than this year's class.

Cristobal and staff went in heavy on the defensive front with guys like edge rushers Tyler Baron and Elijah Alston, and linemen Simeon Barrow Jr., CJ Clark, and Marley Cook.

As for the offense, they bring in skill position players like wide receiver Sam Brown and running back Damien Martinez. While all these met pressing needs that were lost from outgoing transfers and those entering the NFL Draft—or just simply a lack of talent at the position—no transfer made a bigger impact just from the mere announcement of his commitment to the Canes than quarterback Cam Ward.

While on an episode of Always Football with Greg McElroy, Cristobal explained just how important Ward has been since joining the Canes.

“He’s helped us evolve,” Cristobal told McElroy. “You’re not limited with him. He can do a lot of things. He’s got a tremendous capacity, a super high football IQ, and his ability to improvise is sometimes better than the designed play.

“He’s also such a high IQ guy and so systematic that he does play within the system. If it’s not exactly the right call, he can make you right when you’re wrong with your call. Whether it be with his feet, his arm angles, his accuracy, or his ability to just improvise — he’s really added a lot.”

Something to take from Cristobal's words is Ward not having limitations. For the last two decades or so, Miami has had nothing but limitations at quarterback, going back to the last two years with Tyler Van Dyke, who regressed after his standout 2021 season. That year he threw for 2,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 10 games. In his last two seasons, his touchdowns decreased (29) and turnovers skyrocketed (17).

At Washington State last season, Ward tallied 3,736 yards, 25 passing touchdowns to just seven interceptions, plus 144 rushing yards and eight more scores. In a Pac-12 conference full of talented quarterbacks last season, he ranked third in yards, fifth in touchdowns, and third in completions.

The efforts that Cristobal and his staff made to sign Ward may never truly be known in their entirety, but swaying him away from entering the NFL draft says a lot. Cristobal, who enters his third season at Miami, knows this is a pivotal season for him and his team, and his chips are put in on Ward.

The evolution of Miami football is truly in Ward's hands.