University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward has reached 15,000 career passing yards, becoming just the 13th player to reach that milestone, as recognized by the NCAA.
Ward entered Saturday night’s game against South Florida needing 89 yards passing and completed a 22-yard pass to Isaiah Horton in the first quarter to help the eighth-ranked Hurricanes win, 50-15.
The fifth-year senior joined Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel as the only active college quarterbacks with more than 15,000 passing yards. Gabriel, who had 15,779 career yards in 53 games with three different schools before Saturday, will play three seasons at UCF before spending 2022 and 2023 at Oklahoma before transferring to Oregon.
Saturday’s game was Ward’s 48th of his career. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at FCS Incarnate Word (threw 6,908 yards) and his final two at Washington State (threw 6,968 yards). He threw for 1,439 yards in his first four games at Miami this year, becoming the first player to throw for 300 or more yards in four consecutive games to start his career at the school and giving him 15,315 career yards.
Ward completed 24 of 34 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns with one interception against USF.
“He’s been a great player for a long time,” said Miami wide receiver Isaiah Horton, who had a touchdown catch Saturday night. “As soon as he got on campus, he immediately stood out. It’s fun playing with him.”
All-time leaderboard
In addition to Gabriel and Ward, other quarterbacks officially recognized by the NCAA with 15,000 or more passing yards are:
— Case Keenum, 19,217 yards with Houston from 2007 to 2011. Keenum currently plays for the Houston Texans and will miss this season due to injury.
— Timmy Chung, who rushed for 17,072 yards at Hawaii from 2000-04 and is now the head coach there.
— Tyson Bagent: Throws for 17,034 yards at Division II Shepherd from 2018-2022. Currently a backup for the Chicago Bears.
— Landry Jones, rushed for 16,646 yards at Oklahoma from 2009-2012. Started five games for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2015-2017.
— Bo Cordell rushed for 16,265 yards at Division II Tusculum from 2009-13 before playing for Montreal in the CFL.
— Graham Harrell, rushed for 15,793 yards at Texas Tech from 2005-08. Now the offensive coordinator at Purdue.
— Sam Hartman, 15,656 yards at Wake Forest and Notre Dame from 2018-2023. Newcomer to the Washington Commanders.
— Austin Reed, who rushed for 15,550 yards at Division II West Florida and then played at Western Kentucky from 2020-2023, is currently on the Bears’ practice squad.
— Bo Nix, 15,351 rushing yards at Auburn and Oregon from 2019-2023. Starter for the Denver Broncos.
— John Matocha, who threw for 15,102 yards at Division II Colorado School of Mines from 2019-2023 and attended camp with Toronto of the CFL this year.
— Ty Detmer, rushed for 15,031 yards at BYU from 1988-1991. Played 14 seasons in the NFL.
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