Washington State Transfer QB Cam Ward On Ohio State Buckeyes Radar?

Cam Ward could be the one-year rental needed to replace Kyle McCord for 2024.

Ohio State Buckeyes are in need of a new starting quarterback, and they might already have an idea of who that might be. 

According to On3, the Buckeyes appear to be on former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward's radar. Other schools listed include Oregon, USC, Washington, Florida State, Miami, and Wisconsin. 

Ward, who will have one year of eligibility, chose to enter the portal after two seasons in Pullman. He was an All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention after throwing for 3,231 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2022.

This past season, Ward's numbers improved. He threw for 3,732 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for eight touchdowns. Ward also completed a career-best 66.6 percent of his throws. 

Most recruiting analysts believe Ward is the top short-term quarterback on the market. His mobility, elusiveness, and upside in a more pro-style offense could do wonders for a program missing a passer. For Ward, another year in school could bolster his draft status as a member of the 2025 class. 

Ward is projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2024 draft. 

The Buckeyes must look at all options now with Kyle McCord in the portal. McCord, who led Ohio State to an 11-1 season, announced his intent to leave Columbus on Monday. He'll have two years of eligibility remaining. 

Washington State Cougars quarterback Cameron Ward (1) passes against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

In 12 games, McCord threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns against six interceptions. His biggest game came against Notre Dame in Week 4 when he threw for 240 yards and led a 75-yard game-winning drive capped off with a 1-yard touchdown run by Chip Trayanum. 

McCord also threw for 286 yards and a touchdown in the win over No. 10 Penn State. He tossed two interceptions in the regular-season finale, a 30-24 loss to No. 3 Michigan that ultimately factored into Ohio State missing out on the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years. 

"I think there was growth there, for sure, and I think he's a good quarterback, I do," said Buckeyes coach Ryan Day. "After every year, you evaluate everything and try to figure out what to do next. But I think there was a lot of progress made this year."

When asked if McCord would start in the Cotton Bowl against No. 9 Missouri, Day was noncommittal of his status. 

"When you come up short, the bottom line is you got to look at everything because you didn't get it done, and that's the thing that is just sobering here," Day said. "At 11-1, you come up short on the last possession, it's just not good enough. So you got to look at everything, and we will look at everything."

BREAKING: Ohio State QB Kyle McCord Enters NCAA Transfer Portal

Ward is one of several high-profile quarterbacks the Buckeyes could entertain. Others include Duke's Riley Leonard, Kansas State's Will Howard, Oklahoma's Dillion Gabriel, and UCLA's Dante Moore. 

Devin Brown or freshman Lincoln Keinholz will likely start in Arlington against the Tigers on Dec. 29.