Cam Ward’s remarkable journey from being a zero-star recruit with no FBS offers to becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is a testament to the evolving landscape of modern college football. Ward utilized the transfer portal twice, following the coach who recruited him each time, and capitalized on the name, image, and likeness revolution at Washington State and Miami.
The rise of transfers in college football has also translated to the NFL Draft, with players like Caleb Williams, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, and Baker Mayfield all being transfers who went first overall. Last year saw a record number of transfers taken in the first round, with this year coming in as the second-highest total in the past decade.
Notable transfers chosen in this year’s draft include Travis Hunter, who transitioned from FCS to FBS, Walter Nolen, who excelled at Ole Miss after transferring from Texas A&M, and Matthew Golden, who thrived at Texas following his time at Houston.
The NFL Draft continues to showcase the impact of transfers in college football, with players like Cam Ward leading the way in defying expectations and proving themselves at the highest level. As the trend of transfers early in the draft continues to grow, the significance of their contributions to the game is increasingly evident.
(Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
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