Former Washington State quarterback Ward pulls a switcheroo

Less than two weeks after he declared for the NFL draft on New Year’s Day, former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward announced he is staying in college and joining the Miami Hurricanes.

Ward made the announcement with a photo of him in Hurricanes gear and the words “committed to the 305” (Miami area code) on social media Saturday.

Ward, who played two seasons at WSU, previously entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 1 as a graduate transfer before declaring for the NFL draft on Jan. 1.

Apparently, he had a change of heart.

Ward will look to replace three-year Miami starter Tyler Van Dyke, who transferred to Wisconsin. Van Dyke threw for 2,703 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions en route to a 7-6 record for the Hurricanes in 2023.

Ward last season passed for 3,732 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for eight more scores, leading the Cougs to a 5-7 record. He earned Pac-12 honorable mention honors each of his two seasons in Pullman after transferring from Incarnate Word of the Football Championship Subdivision.

For his career, Ward has 13,871 passing yards and 135 total touchdowns.

Ward will compete for the starting job in a quarterback room that includes Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger, who beat the Idaho Vandals 30-22 in the FCS semifinals last season in Moscow, and Riply Luna of Kellogg, Idaho.

Ward may have decided another year in college will improve his draft stock. This year’s NFL draft features a plethora of talent at the position, including USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix, among others.

Next year’s draft won’t be as crowded at the position.

Wiebe may be contacted at (208) 848-2260, swiebe@lmtribune.com or on Twitter @StephanSports.