Potential top draft pick Camward said he plans to “remember” the teams that chose to select him in the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
The warning came just before he won the Davy O'Brien Award given to the country's top college quarterback, and answered questions about his decision not to play the entire Miami game at the Poptert Bowl.
The Hurricane lost 42-41 to Iowa in a relatively pointless bowl game, with Ward being criticized for coming out of the game late.
Ward said Monday he would answer team questions during next week's NFL Combine, but said the team that ended up taking over him was at risk.
“OK, you either draft me or not.” QB told The Associated Press. “If you don't draft me, it's your fault. You need to remember that you are on the same team that you have to play me for the rest of my career, and I remember that.”
Ward threw three touchdowns in the first half of the Poptert Bowl, surpassing Case Keenum's Division I record of 156 career touchdown passes before sitting in the second half, but to support his teammates I stayed on the line.
Miami's coach Mario Cristobal defended the ward in response to criticism, and said Ward had been made in consultation with the Hurricane coaching staff.
“I think we all got what we needed. They saw what they think they need to work on… we're getting closer to this season. And they're also like, I knew what he had on the line,” Ward said. “I feel like we're doing the best for the program and myself, meaning that some of our teams didn't play the people I thought I should play. When it was a difficult decision. It was also, you know, they thought about their future the same way I thought of me.”
It's unclear what Ward's plan is for the Combine, but he throws it to Miami Pro Day.
He is expected to be potentially number one and potential number one somewhere in the draft.
Post's Steve Selby took first place in Tenness in his latest mock draft.
Starchedur Sanders and Travis Hunter of Colorado and Abdul Carter of Pennsylvania could all be higher in the draft. .
