NIL and the transfer portal have completely changed college football. Players, coaches and schools are all figuring out new ways to navigate this landscape.
More than 2,000 players transferred before the 2025 season.
Few will match the success of Cam Ward, who just completed one of the best transfer stories in recent memory. The former Miami quarterback went from Washington State to South Beach and turned himself into the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ward started his college career at Incarnate Word before moving to Washington State. He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school but developed into a top passer. His final season at Miami was his best – he cleaned up his mistakes and became one of college football’s most productive quarterbacks.
The Hurricanes are hoping transfer quarterback Carson Beck can follow the same path. They want to stay competitive in the ACC while developing another first-round draft pick.
Ward’s NFL transition going smoothly
The Tennessee Titans selected Ward with the first overall pick, and early reports from the team are encouraging.
Ward has already shown leadership qualities during offseason workouts. He’s been working with rookie receivers at 5 a.m. for film study and isn’t afraid to tell veteran players how he wants routes run.
“Ward has already emerged as a leader,” Turron Davenport wrote for ESPN. “He had a group of rookie pass catchers coming to the building at 5 a.m. for film study and never hesitated to tell a veteran receiver how he wants a route to be run. Ward also showed he’s able to remain unfazed by mistakes.”
Ward has a guaranteed starting spot and trails only Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty in early Offensive Rookie of the Year odds.
Beck needs a bounce-back season
Beck’s path to Miami wasn’t as complicated as Ward’s, but he’s looking to rebuild his draft stock. An elbow injury ended his Georgia career during the SEC Championship Game and required surgery.
The sixth-year redshirt senior entered 2024 as the expected top quarterback in the draft class.
That changed quickly. When tight end Brock Bowers left for the NFL, Beck had to work with less talent around him. The results weren’t pretty.
Beck’s completion percentage dropped nearly eight points from his junior to senior season. His yards per attempt fell from 9.5 to 7.8. He nearly doubled his interception rate.
His draft stock fell out of the first round.
Miami offers Beck plenty of talent
The Hurricanes have the pieces in place for Beck to succeed and potentially make the College Football Playoff.
Miami’s offensive line is among the country’s best, led by top tackle prospect Francis Mauigoa. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. played well as the team’s second option in 2024. LSU transfer CJ Daniels gives Beck another weapon at receiver.
The defense should be strong too. Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. has established himself as one of college football’s premier defensive linemen.
If Miami wants to send quarterbacks to the first round in back-to-back years, Beck needs to prove he’s more than a game manager. He doesn’t have Ward’s elite arm talent, so he can’t afford to be careless with the football like he was in 2024.
The season opener against Notre Dame could set the tone for Beck’s campaign and Miami’s playoff hopes.
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