Not gonna lie, the Miami Hurricanes’ 2024 season was a roller coaster, filled with highs, followed by gut-wrenching lows. They started off with a heavy bang and making statements, cruising to a 9-0 record and then only to get smoked by 7-5 Georgia Tech and No. 21 ranked Syracuse in the final weeks. Those losses cost Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes their ACC conference game and a seat at the playoff table. Despite all the setbacks, Miami’s Heisman-caliber quarterback, Cam Ward, was the shining star of the season. But now, as Ward heads to the NFL draft, Mario Cristobal faces an urgent question: Who will step in to fill Ward’s massive shoes? With the transfer portal opening on Dec 9th, the Miami Hurricanes had some work to do.
On December 9th, Josh Newberg of the On3 recruit podcast sat down with Miami insider Ibuzee Charles to discuss the upcoming Hurricanes’ QB dilemma. Newberg asked, “What’s Miami’s expectation here? Do they need a transfer portal quarterback? Are they in the market for another top-end QB, similar to Cam Ward?” Charles didn’t sugarcoat his answer. “As of right now, I’m saying no,”
Charles then continued, “Obviously, things can change very quickly in a quick moment with the transfer portal. But they’re very, very confident in Emory Williams. You know, last year it was very obvious that Miami needed a quarterback. They went and got Cam Ward. I think Miami’s riding with Emory Williams.” Charles hit the nail on the head—as of now Miami’s putting their chips on Emory Williams, and it’s a bold move. After the success with Cam Ward, it’s clear they’re betting on Williams to keep this momentum rolling.
It’s clear that Miami’s current plan is to ride with Emory Williams, but there’s always a big ‘BUT’ lurking in the background. “Like I said, things can change in a heartbeat in this day and age of college football. Right now, I do think they’re going to stick with Emory Williams unless someone comes in that can be a complete game-changer in that program,” Charles added, emphasizing that the QB room isn’t locked down just yet. The confidence in Williams is palpable, but the question is, can the untested backup really fill the void left by a guy who was putting up Heisman-like numbers?
With Cam Ward leading, the Hurricanes had one of the best offenses in Miami’s history this season. If we are being real, the only thing that stopped the Hurricanes from making the playoffs was, unfortunately, their off-beat defense. Ward came in from Washington State and wasted no time in making a name for himself and for the Hurricanes, throwing for over 4,150 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just 7 picks. If only Miami’s defense could’ve held its ground, Ward could’ve easily been a top-three in the Heisman convo. But now, Cristobal has the daunting task of replacing a once-in-a-generation QB.
The big question is whether Emory Williams is ready to be the starter next year. Is Emory Williams cut from the same cloth as Cam Ward? Most likely, no. But here’s the thing: Miami isn’t closing the door on finding a transfer. They’ve got their eyes on two quarterbacks, Jake Mateer from Washington State and Darian Mensah from Tulane. Both have had stellar seasons and would be top priorities for the Hurricanes if they entered the portal.
Miami’s QB room also has some talent already in place, including former 3-star Judd Anderson, but there are concerns about his consistency. Time’s ticking for Miami to figure this all out—Cristobal can’t afford to let another season slip away. Look, the transfer portal literally stacked to its core, and if Miami can land a game-changer like they did with Cam Ward, they might have another shot at playoffs, next season.
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