Ward played at three schools in his college football odyssey, beginning as a zero-star prospect at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, before moving on to Washington State and Miami.
Neuheisel believes Ward has some of the cool-under-pressure qualities of Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. That’s about as lofty as praise can get.
“There’s no panic reflex,” Neuheisel said of Ward. “Which is exactly what plagued Will Levis [last season’s starter for the Titans] and why Levis can’t be the guy. Makes rushed decisions when things are falling apart, and Ward is the antithesis of that. He’s unusually calm, sometimes to a fault, but ends up making Mahomesian plays.”
That’s not to say he’s a carbon copy of the Chiefs star.
“He doesn’t have the arm talent that Patrick does,” Neuheisel said. “But he has the same Houdini qualities of getting out of trouble.”
A sampling of Cosell observations
Strengths: Could deliver with pace and touch when needed. Could take something off throws with precise ball placement. … Showed a poised feel to work through progressions. Drop-backs he read front side then calmly came back side.
Weaknesses: Strong tendency to drift on drop-backs without setting his feet and planting with a firm base. … Too many drop-backs he was too loose in the pocket, bouncing and drifting without planting and ready to throw.