Miami quarterback Cam Ward shines in spring game. Highlights, standouts and numbers
Mario Cristobal’s spring III and Cam Ward’s spring I-and-done concluded Saturday at a cozy Cobb Stadium, home of University of Miami soccer and track, but for this day the site of the spring game.
Ward, the prolific, nationally vaunted quarterback who sparked hope for the Hurricanes fan base when he transferred from Washington State for his upcoming fifth and final season of college football, showcased his talents publicly for the first time.
The fans had to like what they saw.
Ward completed 19 of 24 passes (79 percent) for 324 yards and three touchdowns.
“For us it was just going in and making routine plays,’’ Ward said. “That was the biggest thing we wanted to accomplish. I think we did that, from the first group all the way to the third and fourth string.
“I think you’ll see a different Hurricane team this fall.’’
Through the first half, the only half of live play with full tackling, Ward finished 17 of 23 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He threw his third touchdown in the third quarter to Jacolby George.
No formal stats were released.
Though the offense was, as expected, vanilla, Ward’s connection with senior slot star Xavier Restrepo was strong. Ward threw one touchdown, among several completions to Restrepo, down the left sideline in the first half.
“X is somebody who wants to work,’’ Ward said. “We were actually watching film right before the spring game. A guy like that with you out there, a receiver who knows how to win vs. man, who can find soft spots in zone, is good for our offense.’’
Ward opened the scoring with a touchdown to 6-4, 205-pound third-year sophomore Isaiah Horton during the first drive, and said Horton would be a difference-maker this season.
“He’s going to have a breakout year for sure,’’ the quarterback said. “He’s one of the first players in the building every day. He’s somebody who just wants to get better. He’s somebody I can trust on the perimeter.’’
Added Cristobal: “Isaiah Horton had a great spring.’’
An estimated crowd of 5,000, including highly sought-after recruits, family members, former players, students and season-ticket holders who packed into a venue that usually accommodates 500, was wildly appreciative.
“First and foremost, a shout-out to the alumni that came out so strong,’’ Cristobal, entering his third season as UM coach, said regarding the “close to 300 [football] alumni’’ who attended an on-campus Friday dinner for old-timers and current players alike. “Devin Hester spoke’’ and “Andre Johnson spoke very powerfully.
“And then Michael Irvin took the stage and really impacted our players. We need to see that. We need to feel that and do that more and more.’’
Cristobal, who said earlier in the week that he was “really fired up the way spring has gone,’’ was also pleased after the offense-vs.-defense scrimmage ended. “It was good to see guys compete and try to win their one-on-ones. Some plays were positive and some were obviously not positive. But we got a lot of plays in and a lot to work off and look off of film and get ready for the offseason.”
Quarterbacks were off limits to the defense. The second half, with a running clock, had “thudding’’— contact without full tackles.
Some observations:
Quarterbacks/offense
The offense dominated Saturday.
Ward finished the first quarter 7 of 10 for 95 yards and the touchdown to Horton.
“It was real fun to see the fans out here today,’’ Horton said. “We just gave them a little glimpse of our offense. And as you saw, Cam Ward is amazing. He played his butt off.’’
In the second quarter, while rolling right and being chased, Ward connected with Restrepo on a long pass down the right sideline. Restrepo, as has been the norm throughout his career, made an acrobatic grab.
The No. 2 quarterback, Albany Transfer Reese Poffenbarger, had a long completion to Riley Williams early in the game. Riley was covered by freshman safety Zaquan Patterson.
The No. 3 quarterback, Emory Williams, fumbled once but had two completions to Ray-Ray Joseph, including a 10-or-so yard touchdown with just under a minute left in the first half. Williams’ upper left arm, which sustained a compound fracture of his humerus in early November against Florida State, was heavily wrapped.
Williams also threw a long would-be completion to receiver Shemar Kirk, who stepped out of bounds.
And the fourth-string quarterback, Jacurri Brown, threw a long touchdown to tight end Jackson Carver.
“I don’t think we’re far away,’’ former UM wide receiver Johnson, just voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, told Andrea Adelson of ESPN. “We’re getting the right guys in place. Great recruiting classes.’’
Defense
The UM defense was overshadowed by the offense Saturday, but there were some substantial plays. Redshirt sophomore safety Savion Riley, a transfer out of Vanderbilt, forced a fumble. Freshman edge Marquise Lightfoot recovered a fumble and added a sack. Cornerback Demetrius Freeney had a third quarter interception of freshman quarterback Judd Anderson.
“Most of these guys I hang with, they tell me this is their first spring ball too,’’ said Lightfoot, who still has to attend his prom and graduation next month. “Me being 17, and my roommate Zaquan, we’re just now getting into this. I’m fresh out of high school working with 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds, 22-year-olds. It’s just a crazy experience.’’
Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe had a fourth-down stop and several tackles.
Other notables
▪ Freshman tight end Elija Lofton began the game as the starting running back.
▪ Former starting defensive end Akheem Mesidor, who was still in sneakers and not in the custom-ordered cleats from Adidas to help his double-foot recovery from surgeries, did not play.
▪ Offensive lineman Zion Nelson, who hasn’t played in multiple seasons, participated in pregame drills.
▪ The starting offensive line, left to right: tackle Jalen Rivers, guard Matthew McCoy, Zach Carpenter, guard Anez Cooper and tackle Samson Okunlola.
Another commit
The Canes got their seventh commitment for the Class of 2025 after the spring game, when four-star Leo, Indiana tight end Brock Schott pledged his allegiance to Miami.
Schott, 6-3 and 215 pounds, is 247Sports’ composite rankings No. 10 tight end, as well as On3’s No. 10 tight end. His offers included Ohio State, Michigan, Ball State and Florida State.
Schott is the second tight end in UM’s 2025 class.
