TAMPA — Miami Hurricanes star quarterback Cam Ward can escape the pocket when he needs to scramble. USF quarterback Byrum Brown uses his athleticism frequently, leading his team in rushing yards entering Saturday’s matchup between the two Florida schools.
Each strategy has its pros and cons, and Ward explained why he is a throw-first quarterback as he prepared for the game against the Bulls.
“I just think there’s a time and place when to do that,” Ward said. “I haven’t had that time yet this year, to be put in that position to do that yet. But if I need to, I will.”
Through three games, Ward has seven carries for 46 yards and a rushing touchdown, significantly fewer running attempts per game than he had last season. In 2023, Last year, he had 120 carries (including sacks) for 144 yards and eight touchdowns.
Brown, on the other hand, uses his legs as another weapon frequently. He has carried the ball 46 times this year for 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Last year, Brown had 203 carries for 803 yards and 11 scores.
The difference, in part, may lie in Miami’s pass-catchers and its offensive line. Ward typically has had plenty of time to throw in UM’s first three games, taking just two sacks. He has had no trouble delivering the ball to Hurricanes wide receivers.
“You have a receiving corps like ours, you’ve got four or five legit dudes who can go,” Ward said. “What are you trying to run for when you can throw to those guys and they run it wide open. I’m just trying to get the ball to the playmakers.”
Coaches reunited
The Hurricanes and Bulls’ coaching staffs have some familiarity with each other.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal poached running back Matt Merritt from Alex Golesh’s staff at USF last year after Merritt spent one season with the Bulls.
Golesh also has a couple of former Cristobal staff members working with him, as well.
USF defensive coordinator Todd Orlando served as Cristobal’s defensive coordinator for two seasons when Cristobal was the head coach at Florida International.
Additionally, Bulls cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke, a UM alum, was a quality control analyst under Cristobal in 2022.
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