Tag: Cam Ward

College Sports Wire identifies the top performers for Week 4 of the Pac-12 season

.@College_Wire looks at the best of the #Pac12 from Week 4.

The Pac-12 season took a significant turn in Week 4. Cam Ward was responsible for one of the biggest plot twists in the conference. The Washington State quarterback was virtually perfect in leading the Cougars past Oregon State in the Pac-2 championship game.

Washington State is now a serious player in the Pac-12 race.

College Sports Wire had this to say about Ward:

“Washington State’s Cameron Ward had arguably the best game of his career against Oregon State. Ward picked apart a very good Oregon State secondary throughout the afternoon en route to his second 400+ yard performance of the season. Ward is up to nearly 1,400 passing yards this season and 13 touchdowns with no interceptions.”

Check out College Sports Wire’s other top Pac-12 performers from Week 4 of the season. The Colorado-Oregon and UCLA-Utah games produced big stories in the conference. They also produced some of College Sports Wire’s other top Pac-12 players for the week.

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Follow Buffaloes Wire for complete coverage of Deion Sanders and Colorado, as CU prepares to play USC on Fox Big Noon Saturday.

USC win over ASU felt like a loss in many ways.

Alex Grinch is not quieting his critics, and bigger tests await.

Draft film breakdown: Washington State QB Cameron Ward vs. Oregon State

Ward had a great game and did a lot of things NFL scouts will like to see in Wazzou’s win

Cameron Ward has flown somewhat under the national radar thus far in 2023. It’s getting harder to ignore what the Washington State quarterback is doing in Pullman, both from a college football perspective and in regard to the 2024 NFL draft.

Ward, a 6-foot-2 junior, is in his second season as the Cougars starter after transferring from FCS-level Incarnate Word. In Saturday’s win over Oregon State in a matchup of two top-20 teams. Ward flashed a lot of the skills that have kept him on the periphery of the top QBs in the class.

In the 38-35 home win, Ward completed 28 of his 34 pass attempts, netting 404 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for another.

This is the second offensive play of the game. Talk about coming out hot…

That’s a 55-yard air throw that’s perfectly on the money. Ward’s throwing platform looks optimal here, and he had the patience to wait on the route to develop and the coverage to commit. Many quarterbacks will rush this throw and lead the coverage to the receiver, but Ward deftly avoids that mistake.

He did make some mistakes, alas. One of them is especially problematic: a fumble created because of the insecure way Ward carries the ball. He got stripped by a Beavers defender who had no business making any play here:

Good quarterbacks can quickly put mistakes behind them, and Ward showed that skill. Just before halftime, his growth as a passer and decision-maker shone. On this play, Ward buys some time with his agility but keeps the eyes up. He’s rewarded with an easy TD strike.

In 2022, Ward likely would have tried to run that in himself, or force the throw earlier. His maturation to stay patient in situations like this is very impressive. This is only his third year of starting at QB in an offense that throws, and he’s clearly grown in his processing and ability to read the defense.

Ward primarily uses a delivery that’s three-quarters; it’s not sidearm, nor is it over the top. It can look awkward on shorter throws, almost like he’s pushing a dart instead of throwing a football. However, he’s accurate and the ball comes out very quickly. Ward can also alter his platform and mechanics. He resets quickly on the move, as well.

Overall, this was a nice NFL audition tape for Ward if he chooses to declare for the 2024 draft. While Wazzou runs a QB-friendly system, Ward appears to have the physical and mental traits to transcend just being a “system” quarterback.

 

 

WATCH: Wisconsin sack of WSU QB Cam Ward ruled…not a safety?

Was this a safety?

Wisconsin fell 31-22 to Washington State last night as the honeymoon period for Luke Fickell in Madison came to an end.

That’s not to say Fickell won’t achieve great things, which I still think he will do. But once that first loss happens, many immediately forget all of the offseason hype surrounding the program. That’s where Wisconsin is right now, with a lot to improve upon before Big Ten play begins.

Related: Five stats that defined Wisconsin’s loss to Washington State

Last night’s game turned on many plays. Wisconsin turned the ball over three times, struggled in the red zone and couldn’t contain quarterback Cam Ward.

There was a moment where it looked like Wisconsin had control. Early in the fourth quarter, where the Badgers had just scored to made it a 24-22 Washington State lead, the Cougars had the ball on their own goal line.

Cam Ward was sacked by James Thompson Jr. and fell on his knee and back in the end zone. Yet the referees inexplicably called Ward down at the 1, allowing Washington State to punt and avoid giving the two points to the Badgers.

Related: The good, the bad and the ugly from Wisconsin’s loss to Washington State

Here’s the play, you can decide for yourself:

The ensuing punt soon led to a Chez Mellusi fumble, which turned into a Washington State touchdown and an insurmountable lead. This single call went a long way towards deciding the football game.

I think it’s a safety.

Everything you need to know about the 2023 Washington State Cougars

Washington State team preview:

Wisconsin is set for a trip out to Pullman, Washington for a Week 2 matchup with the 1-0 Washington State Cougars.

The out-of-conference road test is not a trap game by any means, as the Cougars defeated the Badgers in Madison last season and enter the weekend after a dominant Week 1 win over Colorado State. This is not a game Wisconsin should overlook in any form, especially after a sloppy 2023 debut against Buffalo.

Related: Big Ten starting quarterback rankings after Week 1: Where’s Mordecai?

Washington State presents a fascinating test for Luke Fickell’s team with star Cam Ward at quarterback coming off a 491-yard, four-touchdown performance last weekend. The team enters Saturday ranked No. 48 in ESPN’s updated SP+, with the No. 41 offense and No. 51 defense.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2023 Washington State Cougars:

The most important QB names to know in the 2023 Pac-12 season

We previewed every team in the Pac-12, now it’s time to break down the positions.

Let’s start at QB, hands down the most star-studded position group out west.

As we continue our preview of the 2023 college football season in the Pac-12 conference, we are going to shift our focus from individual teams to individual positions. The last several weeks have been spent picking apart each school out west, finding where they improved the most over the offseason, and identifying what realistic expectations should be for them going forward.

You can see them all here: Arizona Wildcats — Arizona State Sun Devils — California Golden Bears — Colorado Buffaloes — Oregon State Beavers — Stanford Cardinal — UCLA Bruins — USC Trojans — Utah Utes — Washington Huskies — Washington State Cougars

Now we’re going to look at position groups as a whole in the conference. Whether it’s a quarterback or a linebacker, a punter or a safety, there are dozens of highly talented players out west. We want to go through them all, position group by position group, and highlight some of the most important names that fans should know at each spot. 

It all starts with the quarterback, and unless something abnormal takes place, it usually ends with the quarterback as well. The 2023 season in the Pac-12 is going to be defined by quarterback play, with some of the best passers in the nation getting set out west to try and end the conference drought in the College Football Playoff.

There are three sure-fire Heisman Trophy contenders, with a fourth or fifth hanging around the fringes. There are offensive masterminds scattered throughout the landscape ready to dial up shots down the field. There’s a chance that, in the final year of the Pac-12 as we know it, we are going to see a better display of quarterback play than we ever have before.

So who are the guys that you need to pay attention to and keep on your radar as we get set for fall camp to begin in a couple of weeks? Here’s who we are looking at:

Rookie WR rankings: Purple Daily on Draft

With not much happening in the heart of the offseason, projecting rookies and discussing the 2024 NFL Draft class dominates the discussion.

As we are about two weeks away from mandatory minicamp, discussions about how this year’s rookie class can impact the game are the most popular topics. That’s what hosts Declan Goff, Tyler Forness and Thor Nystrom tackled on the latest episode of Purple Daily on Draft.

Who will be the most productive rookie wide receiver this season? Goff also asks who will be the Minnesota Vikings fantasy football MVP after Justin Jefferson?

To finish the show, they start the discussion about college quarterbacks as NFL draft prospects begins. They discuss three of the top quarterbacks.

You can catch the entire episode below and on the Purple Daily YouTube channel.

2024 NFL draft: Quarterback prospects

The Minnesota Vikings have an uncertain future at the quarterback position and the 2024 NFL Draft is flush with talent.

While the 2024 NFL draft is nearly a year away, it is never too early to be a forward thinker and look toward next year’s class.

The Minnesota Vikings are in an odd position with the quarterback position. Kirk Cousins is only under contract through the 2023 season and his future is in question.

Because the Vikings don’t have a certainty at the position after 2023, a high draft pick is likely in 2024, which is why we are focusing on the position. So far, we have scouted eight of the quarterbacks in the 2024 class and there is a lot of talent. Here are the scouting reports on the top quarterbacks in the class.

2024 NFL draft prospect: Washington State QB Cam Ward

After transferring from Incarnate Word, Cam Ward displayed a lot of talent, but has some things he needs to clean up.

Welcome to SKOL Search!

This series will be your guide to the 2024 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.

We are getting a head start this year by looking at the talent projected to be available in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. Why start in the summer? It’s a good way to see how the players grow from year-to-year and we will be looking at players from a Vikings perspective.

Right now, the Vikings will have seven draft picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

  • 1st round
  • 2nd round
  • 4th round
  • 4th round (via Lions)
  • 5th round (via Chiefs)
  • 5th round (via Browns)
  • 6th round

If USC doesn’t make the Pac-12 title game this year, it can look to Pullman and Washington State

Yes, the Trojans needed to take care of business at Utah, and they didn’t, but it’s notable that Wazzu had both Oregon and Utah on the ropes, and let them get away.

What do we always say about any pursuit of a conference or division championship in sports? Control what you can control. The USC Trojans led the Utah Utes by 14 points on October 15. They needed to protect that lead. They still led by seven points with one minute left. They needed to protect that lead.

They did not. If they had, they wouldn’t be in an uncomfortable position right now in the Pac-12 championship race.

We can all see and admit that.

Yet, it’s hard to avoid noticing that two of USC’s foremost competitors for the Pac-12 title were both in big trouble in Pullman this season. Both were able to escape Washington State.

Oregon was down 34-22 to the Cougars with four minutes left in regulation and then scored 20 points. Thursday night, Utah was without Cam Rising, Tavion Thomas, and Micah Bernard (on top of Brant Kuithe, who was lost for the season several weeks ago). The Utes still won.

Let’s look at this game from a Washington State perspective:

Cameron Ward faces 1st big test on the road vs. Wisconsin

Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward has a chance to prove himself, and boost his NFL draft stock, at Camp Randall this weekend

At Incarnate Word, quarterback Cameron Ward put up numbers that looked like he was playing NCAA 14 on freshman difficulty.

Now that he’s leading a Power 5 team, Washington State’s prized transfer will get the chance to prove he can have the same kind of success against top competition.

Ward’s first big test will come Saturday, when the Cougars travel to Madison to take on No. 19 Wisconsin at Camp Randall.

Though his season opener featured a respectable stat line (25/40, 215 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions), it was a 24-17 victory at home over Idaho. In other words, a far cry from the situation Ward will find himself in this weekend against the Badgers.

Ward will be facing a Wisconsin defense that shut out Illinois State last week, giving up just 186 yards through the air, and grabbing a pair of interceptions.

If Ward wants to prove he belongs in the conversation among the best quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class, a solid performance against a quality opponent in a hostile environment would be a huge step in the right direction.

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