Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward plans to enter the transfer portal while exploring the possibility of entering his name in the 2024 NFL Draft, he announced on social media Friday morning.
Ward threw for 6,963 yards and totaled 61 touchdowns in two years at Washington State. The Cougars ranked sixth in total offense this past season but went 5-7 and missed a chance at a bowl game.
“After a lot of reflection, I will be evaluating entering the 2024 NFL Draft as well as intending to enter my name into the transfer portal as a grad transfer,” Ward said on X.
He was a two-year starter at FCS Incarnate Word, where he won Freshman of the Year in 2020 and Southland Conference Player of the Year in 2021 before transferring to Washington State.
Washington State went on a four-game winning streak to start the season, which included wins over Wisconsin and Oregon State but lost seven of its last eight games to end the year. Ward was an early Heisman Trophy candidate but quickly dropped out of the race as the Cougars season started to slip away.
On3 has set his NIL value at $629,000, but that number could very well skyrocket as Ward is going to be one of the most sought-after QBs in the transfer portal. Ward joins fellow PAC-12 QBs DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State) and Dante Moore (UCLA) as well as Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke as the latest quarterbacks to hit the market.
Many mock drafts have Ward as a projected Day 2 selection. If he were to go pro this year, he would likely be joining a quarterback class that includes USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Oregon’s Bo Nix, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
Ward entering the transfer portal is another big blow for Washington State, as the Cougars lost top receiver Josh Kelly earlier this week. The Cougars shouldn’t have a hard time attracting another high-level QB, as they were one of the top passing teams in the country this past season.
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