Tag: 2023 NFL Draft

Washington State Cameron Ward Is The Player To Watch This Season

Washington State QB Cameron Ward is a darkhorse top QB in the 2023 NFL Draft
Photo Credit: wsucougars.com

With all of the buzz about quarterbacks to keep an eye on this season — a list that could include potential first-round picks like Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke or Kentucky’s Will Levis — let me shine a light on a Pac-12 quarterback who recently transferred from an FCS school where he set multiple records. That quarterback is current Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward, a blazing talent cannon-slinger who is a vastly underrated prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Ward most recently attended Incarnate Word, where he starred in head coach Eric Morris’ air raid scheme. The same offense he utilized at Texas Tech when he was coaching a valiant young Patrick Mahomes.

Under Morris, Ward had some of the most jaw-dropping games that captivated college football fans, and he garnered a lot of notoriety. He led his team to a nail-biting overtime triumph over rival Stephen F Austin in the first round of the FCS playoffs at home in front of thousands of fans at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.

This man is absolutely fantastic on the field, whether it’s tossing a 40-yard bomb to his favorite target, Taylor Grimes, or making plays with his feet. He concluded the season with 47 touchdowns, 4,648 passing yards, and only 10 interceptions, which are incredible stats. He was among the most anticipated prospects after expressing his intention to enter the transfer portal.

Easy Transition From FCS TO FBS

While there will be many questions about whether his talents can transition from FCS to FBS, there really shouldn’t be. When you have talent in you, it stays with you forever. It also helps that his former head coach is currently with him at Washington State. Ward will join a Pac-12 conference that includes Caleb Williams of USC, Bo Nix of Oregon, and Cameron Rising of Utah.

When the college football season begins, expect to witness a bunch of duels. He begins this season as the sleeper, the underdog, which just adds to his determination to improve as a player.

Ready For The Big Moment

Cameron Ward is more than prepared for the big moment and deserves just as much acclaim as the other quarterbacks receiving media attention for the 2023 NFL Draft. Just keep in mind that once he starts turning heads in the Pac-12, don’t be surprised if the bandwagon becomes a little too heavy.

2023 NFL Draft: Should You Buy the Hype on Tyler Van Dyke?

There's Nobody I'd Rather Have': Why Tyler Van Dyke Is Set To Succeed Early - 305Sports
Photo Credit: 305Sports

It is time to look at the 2023 NFL Draft quarterbacks. There is a lot of hype on the internet because of how lackluster the 2022 class was, with some big name analysts saying we could see 7 first round quarterbacks. Now, I’m not going to talk about C.J Stroud or Bryce Young. We all know they are good and we all buy the hype with them. But there are five other quarterbacks that are getting crazy amounts of hype. First up in this series looking at 2023 NFL Draft QBs, Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke.

Who is Van Dyke?

Tyler Van Dyke was a 4-star recruit from Connecticut. He ripped up New England in high school, and not just on the football field. Van Dyke was the New England Pitcher of the Year, with a 6-0 record and a 1.08 ERA.

At Miami, Van Dyke took over for D’Eriq King when he went out with a season-ending injury. From there, Van Dyke had six games in a row with 300 yards and three touchdowns.

What is Van Dyke’s Skill set?

Tyler Van Dyke has a lot of talent, and he doesn’t lose his cool very often. Van Dyke’s arm is NFL level. The Miami offense last year was not very quarterback friendly. Van Dyke constantly had to hop on his horse and run, which led to him having to create more than he probably should have as a first-year quarterback. By no means did this throw off Van Dyke (which is good to see), however it did lead to a few mistakes.

Van Dyke does have some weaknesses. He occasionally holds onto the ball for too long, however this could have been because of what I mentioned before about Miami’s offense. His load time and release speed could also use some improvement.

Should You Buy the Hype?

In my opinion: buy with caution. I think he is going to have a great year in Miami, but is he in the quarterback three range? I don’t know just yet. With the shortage of first round quarterbacks in 2022, I think Van Dyke could sneak into the first. Who knows, if Mario Cristobal can get him a legitimate offense, Tyler Van Dyke might just climb his way to the top 15 of the 2023 NFL Draft.