Does Auburn football need Incarnate Word QB Cameron Ward in transfer portal?

Incarnate Word QB Cameron Ward of the FCS’ Southland Conference is about to be one of the most highly sought-after names in the NCAA transfer portal, and Auburn football is already in on his recruitment.

They’re far from alone, being joined by Indiana, Ole Miss, North Texas, Houston, West Virginia, Florida, Nebraska, Troy, Texas State, Western Kentucky, and Liberty as Ward suitors.

Several of those programs are losing their starting QB, including Ole Miss and Liberty, who are sending their dual-threat studs (Matt Corral, Malik Willis) to the NFL. Others, like Indiana and Nebraska, lost their starting QBs (Michael Penix Jr.m Adrian Martinez) to the transfer portal themselves.

Auburn is in that boat, having said goodbye to Bo Nix this past Sunday as the Tigers legacy QB chose to find a new home after earning an AU degree.

But how important is it for the program to land a QB of Ward’s caliber in the transfer portal?

Auburn football doesn’t need Cameron Ward with who they already have at QB

Ward has the ability to throw on the run and use his legs to maneuver out of the pocket and find space to complete…sound familiar?

Well, Tiger fans may not know because of Mike Bobo’s snap distribution, but Dematrius Davis does a lot of the same things. In fact, the fellow Texas product Davis was far more accomplished in high school and had interest from over 25 schools.

Of course, the lack of interest in Ward out of high school doesn’t take away what he accomplished in 2021 with Incarnate Word. He threw for 481 yards, five touchdowns, and no INTs against the defending FCS national champions Sam Houston State in their postseason’s second round. On November 6th against SE Louisiana, he went for 610 yards, seven touchdowns and an INT.

This is a legitimate big play QB with a huge arm and the ability to make things happen however possible. But with Lane Kiffin being hot on his trail, and Hugh Freeze offering an opening with the chance to turn another dual-threat transfer into a national name, Bryan Harsin is behind the 8-ball in Ward’s recruitment as it is.

He might as well just stay there, though. TJ Finley doesn’t seem to be going anywhere after showing up at the Auburn Arena for AU basketball’s tilt with North Alabama Tuesday night. Dee Davis deserves a look before Auburn football goes out and adds another QB with a similar skillset. And don’t forget about Holden Geriner, who has the skills to earn the QB1 role as a freshman.

Ward is better off elsewhere, where there are no deserving options.