OPINION: Cam Ward vs. the Florida Gators secondary one of biggest mismatches in Miami Hurricanes’ favor entering season opener

A year ago, when Cam Ward was leading the nation’s No. 4 passing offense at Washington State, he spread the ball around to three different receivers who all had 840 or more yards. There could be a similar look this year at Miami, considering there are a pair of top returning threats in Xavier Restrepo (1,092 yards last season) and Jacolby George (864) plus the addition of Houston’s top wideout Sam Brown (815 yards).

Which begs the question: How the heck is a suspect Florida secondary that lost pieces off a back end that was 108th in team passing efficiency defense, was No. 70 in pass yards allowed and 129 ^th in passes intercepted with three going to slow down Ward & Co.?

Before we get into some of the personnel, let’s not forget that Ward’s season-opener last season saw him throw for 451 yards with three TDs and no picks against Colorado State.

The last game he suited up for? That was a three-point loss against a Washington team that went on to play for the national title, and he threw for 317 yards with three TDs and two INTs in that one … despite being sacked five times.

He threw for 300 or more yards in seven of the team’s 12 games last year, and in three of them surpassed 400 yards.

He’s got explosive plays written all over him.

So it’s pretty clear he has the ability, and the guys around him, to put up massive numbers in Gainesville Aug. 31.

What’s not as clear is if the Gators have the personnel up front to pressure him, or in the back end to give him pause.

In reality the biggest factor for Ward won’t be the Miami OL vs. Gators DL matchup, but how he picks apart a suspect secondary. That’s in part because Miami’s O line has three proven returning starters and the Gators have question marks up front … plus Ward has that added dimension of escapability. So the pressure should not be a major issue.

Now, as you look at the UF secondary, you see a group that allowed an SEC-worst 20 passes of 40 or more yards in 2023. The team changed up its DB coach, hoping former Washington assistant Will Harris will pay dividends. But he doesn’t have a lot of returning experience in the back end. The main guys Ward will have to watch out for are CB Jason Marshall, who has started 28 straight games, and safety Jordan Castell, who started 11 games as a true freshman. On the other side at corner Devin Moore was banged up last year and played in seven games, with others like Alabama transfer Jameer Grimsley, Ja’Keem Johson, Dijon Johnson and former 5-star transfer Cormani McClain looking to try and work in. Along with Castell at the safety spot there are guys like Tulane transfer DJ Douglas, Oregon transfer Trikweze Bridges and former Washington safety Asa Turner. Moore and Turner (started six games at Washington last year and had 26 tackles) appear most likely to join Marshall and Castell as starters off fall drills, with Sharif Denson the likely starter at STAR (he played off the bench last year).

So really there are just two experienced fulltime starters in the secondary, and it remains to be seen how that unit can come together.

If Ward can take advantage of a group that was one of the nation’s worst last year and still has plenty of question marks, points will go up quickly for the Canes.

The bottom line?

Ward vs. the Florida secondary has to be considered one of the biggest mismatches in favor of Miami entering this game.

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