Cameron Ward, the freshly minted No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, has a lot to be happy about. That’s right, he just inked a profitable four-year, $48.7 million rookie contract with the Tennessee Titans! His path to this mountaintop of achievement was fraught with obstacles. It is a testament to the indelible imprint unswerving support can leave on someone talented and determined, as shown through father Calvin Ward’s diligence. With grit and gumption, they drove Texas’s twisting circuitous highways. Together, they fought through challenges that sought to derail Cameron’s goals of being a professional quarterback.
Growing up in West Columbia, Texas—a small town about an hour outside of Houston—Cameron faced significant hurdles in getting noticed by college scouts. While he showed immense potential on the field, he played in a run-heavy Wing T offense at West Columbia High School, which limited his passing opportunities. In his three years with the Owls, he completed just 267 passes and threw for a total of just 2,261 yards. Still, even with these limitations, Cameron’s skill was enough to draw the attention of college coaches.
With his father at his side, Cameron went to many of the Texas football camps. Calvin Ward, the ex-University of Houston walk-on quarterback, was immensely influential in the development of his son’s game. Calvin began to teach Cameron the finer points of the game when Cameron was only eight years old. What his father did give him, arguably more than any other athlete, was a will.
“My dad wouldn’t let me take no for an answer,” Cameron remarked about his father’s influence. He spoke about how Calvin lifted him up through the worst of times. He insisted that the journey would be difficult but knew that determination would pave the way to victory.
Calvin’s devotion to Cameron’s aspirations was clear as he drove his son to sports camps across Texas. The time spent traveling brought Cameron and his two older sisters, Aaliyah and Chantel, together, according to their mother. Combined, they forged personal legacies while pursuing athletic perfection.
Even when he was getting doubted by the likes of Stephen A Smith, Calvin knew what his son could do on the field. It was the year that created him,” he said of that formative campaign when Cameron thrived at Incarnate Word, following an offer from then-head coach Eric Morris. Cameron had a busy 2020, using his time well at Incarnate Word to display his full arsenal of skills. He quickly adjusted to a more pass-heavy offensive system.
After a successful stay, he moved on to Miami. Over there, he broke all sorts of single-season records, throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns. Just in his sophomore season, he passed for 4,648 yards, 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That performance was good enough to land him Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Reflecting on his son’s success, Calvin expressed disbelief at the trajectory of Cameron’s career: “Cameron going No. 1, that’s still surreal to me, knowing how he got there.” He thanked all those responsible for having the vision, hard work and dedication that brought them to this point.
As he prepared for the NFL Draft, Cameron faced scrutiny over his ability and whether he was merely a product of Eric Morris’ system. Calvin dismissed these concerns, stating, “OK, guess what? Morris is gone now. Now it’s Cameron Ward.” This show of faith underscored Calvin’s own belief that they should embrace his son’s uniqueness as a player.
For Cameron, that journey ended with him being the first overall pick in that year’s draft, selected by the Tennessee Titans. To top off his college career, he had a 66% completion rate. He amassed 3,736 passing yards, threw 25 touchdown passes and just seven picks.
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