The NIL landscape has created valuable opportunities for college student-athletes to leverage their Name, Image, and Likeness. As the college football season reaches Week 4, some players, like Miami quarterback Cam Ward, have seen significantly higher financial benefits from their NIL deals.
Ward, who transferred to Miami after an impressive season at Washington State—where he threw for 3,732 yards and 25 touchdowns—has been generating buzz. His first major NIL deal was with Nutrabolt’s C4 Energy earlier this month. His standout performances as a freshman quarterback have positioned him for significant recognition.
Heading into Week 4, Cam Ward experienced the largest increase in NIL earnings, gaining $238,000 to bring his total to $1.9 million, coinciding with a potential career milestone.
Ward is closing in on a remarkable achievement that only one active player, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, has reached: 15,000 career passing yards. The NCAA reports that only 12 players across all divisions have hit this mark, and Ward needs just 89 more yards, which he is likely to achieve in his upcoming game against South Florida.
Despite his success, Ward emphasizes the importance of consistency. He currently leads all college quarterbacks this season with 1,035 passing yards, just behind Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart. He has also thrown for over 300 yards in each of Miami’s first three games, becoming the first Miami quarterback to do so. Following their last win, he stated, “We have to be more consistent. We can’t have lulls on one play. Every player has to be a statement.” He has made a strong impression, completing 24 passes of 20 yards or more and throwing 11 touchdowns. USF coach Alex Golesh has praised Ward, noting his significant impact on the game.
Will Ward achieve those 89 yards in style? With his current performance, he’s poised to make the next game memorable.
Leave a Reply