The West Columbia, Texas native is a poster child for the Name, Image and Likeness era of college football as he began his career at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio before heading to Washington State and playing out his final year in Miami with coach Mario Cristobal's team.

Cam Ward issued a strong warning to NFL teams in February. "If you don't draft me, that's your fault," Ward said at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. "You've got to remember you're the same team that's got to play me for the rest of my career, and I'll remember that."