Cam Ward received another honor on Wednesday, being named the winner of the Manning Award as the top quarterback in college football. Ward, who is likely to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft this spring after leading the highest-scoring offense in the country last season, believes the award will help him in his NFL journey.
“Once again, we’ve got just an outstanding young man who had an unbelievable year in Miami,” football legend Archie Manning said. “Their offense just lit up throughout the year. And now he’s preparing for the NFL draft where he’s going to be in a great position.”
Three of the 11 quarterbacks with at least 25 touchdown passes in the NFL this season — Washington’s Jayden Daniels (2023), Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (2019), and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield (2017) — were recent winners of the Manning Award.
“I think it’s going to help me in a tremendous way,” Ward said. “If you look at the past winners, specifically last year and Jayden Daniels and the rookie season that he’s had, it’s helped him a lot. And just being able to connect with the Mannings at all times — they’re only a phone call away from me — I just think this award is going to just help me just in the long run.”
Ward is the 20th player to win the award and the first quarterback from Miami to receive it. The Manning Award, created by the Sugar Bowl, honors the college football achievements of Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning. The Mannings, along with a panel of reporters, vote for the winner.
Ward ended his college career with a Division I (FBS and FCS level) record of 158 touchdown passes. His total of 18,189 passing yards — 6,908 at Incarnate Word, 6,968 at Washington State, and 4,313 at Miami — ranks third in NCAA history behind only Case Keenum and Dillon Gabriel.
During his single season at Miami in 2024, Ward set multiple school records, including single-season records for yards, completions (305), touchdown passes (39), and completion percentage, both for the season and in his career at 67.2%.
“I’m sure looking back on it now, Cam will admit, another year of college football just prepares you for that big transition to the NFL,” Archie Manning said. “Cam, he’s done it right and I think he’s got a great future.”
Ward was a zero-star recruit when he started college and worked his way up to become a Heisman Trophy finalist, an All-American, and now a likely top NFL draft pick.
“Hard work can do it, no matter what your journey is,” Ward said. “You’ve got to work. You’ve got to work hard, put one foot in front of the other, then just try to go make plays when you get on the field.”
Despite spending only 11 months with the Miami program, Ward leaves as a legend. As an All-American, his name will be featured on a banner in the Miami indoor practice facility.
The Hurricanes finished 10-3, missing out on the College Football Playoff and the Atlantic Coast Conference title game by just one win.
“I wish I had more time in Miami to be able to win a championship, whether it’s ACC or national,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, I believe everything happens for a reason.
And the teammates that I was surrounded by this year are the best group of teammates I’ve had, off the field more than on the field. The camaraderie we had, whether it was in the hotel or the locker room, that’s the thing I’m going to miss the most.”
