Post-Spring Analysis: Miami Hurricanes QB position in great hands with Cam Ward
With Miami’s 15 spring practices in the rearview mirror, it’s worth taking a position by position look at where things stand, and that starts with the quarterback position:
PROJECTED MIAMI QB DEPTH CHART
Starter: Cam Ward
2nd team: Reese Poffenbarger
3rd team: Emory Williams
POST-SPRING ANALYSIS
The QB room upped its overall talent and went from just three scholarship QBs last year to a much better situation this time around. Heck, you could argue that Emory Williams and Jacurri Brown (transferred out this spring) were the best two QBs on the roster at the end of last year amid Tyler Van Dyke’s issues, and they spent this spring as the third- and fourth-teamers. The turnover woes of Van Dyke are now Wisconsin’s problem, right? A pair of transfers radically altered the dynamic of this room. Washington State star Cam Ward, who some projected as a third round NFL pick had he gone pro, showcased his ability this spring and very much looks like the real deal. Albany’s Reese Poffenbarger also came on and looks like he can do some good things, although he will be behind Ward and will compete to start next year.
A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD
Ward showcased his talent in the Spring Game with 324 passing yards, three TDs and no turnovers, making good decisions and completing balls from different arm angles. As a refresher, the 6-2, 221-pounder was No. 4 in passing yards in college football last year, finishing hitting on 66.7 percent of his throws for 3,732 yards (311.0 yards per game) with 25 TDs and seven INTs (adding eight rushing scores). His arm talent is unquestioned, and he’s also mobile. Per Pro Football Focus Ward graded out at a stellar 80.7 percent this past season (59.9 percent in 2022 and then 66.9 percent and 67.0 percent his prior two years at Incarnate Word). He was particularly deadly on deep throws last season with an elite 92.7 grade on throws of 20+ yards (he was 23-57 for 725 yards with 10 TDs and two INTs on those passes).
As for Poffenbarger? The 6-0 dual threat hit on 58.7 percent of his passes in 2023 for an FCS-best 3,603 passing yards along with 36 TDs and 13 INTs. He also ran for five more scores with 187 rush yards. Two years ago, he completed 61.5 percent of his throws for 2,999 yards with 24 TDs and four INTs, adding 128 rush yards and two more scores. He graded out at a stellar 84.9 percent last year per PFF, including an elite 91.3 percent on throw of 20+ yards (35-103, 1,321 yards, 21 TDs, six INTs). But, again, this was against a much different level of opposition. Poffenbarger began his career as a walkon at Old Dominion after arriving from Middleton (Md.) High School. He looked good this spring and certainly is capable of putting up a lot of points in this offense.
Williams was No. 3 on the depth chart much of the spring, and he got some experience last season with two starts as a true freshman. The first was against Clemson when Tyler Van Dyke was out injured and the second against Florida State after Van Dyke was benched for erratic play. In the win vs. the Tigers you saw a poised Williams who wasn’t asked to do too much – he threw mainly short passes and was 24-33 for 151 yards with a TD and interception. He suffered a season-ending injury at the end of the FSU loss while scrambling to keep a final drive alive with Miami down a touchdown. He was just eight-for-23 passing in Tallahassee, for 175 yards with two TDs including a highlight 85-yarder to Jacolby George. Did Williams have some bright moments in Year 1? Sure, and his future is bright. Per PFF he graded out at 66.8 percent in 181 reps last year.
The other QB here is true freshman Judd Anderson, who is expected to redshirt.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The sky is the limit for this Miami offense that the last two years averaged 23.6 and 31.5 points and 367.1 and 431.2 yards, respectively. Whispers around Greentree are this can be an offense that averages right around 40 points a game under Ward’s leadership. For reference, Miami hasn’t averaged 39 or more points since all the way back in 2002, and only seven teams in the nation averaged that many points last season. Certainly a lot rests on the QB’s shoulders. With Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George the top two returning receivers (and UM chasing more talent in the second portal window), TE Elijah Arroyo back, freshman H-back Elija Lofton looking like the real deal and the team looking to add a difference-making RB (likely Oregon State’s Damien Martinez) in the second portal window, there’s all kinds of room for optimism. The O line has already addressed its needs with Indiana veteran center Zach Carpenter joined by three returning starters and very good young depth. Perhaps the only caveat here is Ward’s fumbling issues in the past (46 in the last four years). But we just don’t see a world in which Cam Ward and this offense aren’t very, very successful.
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