I like Ward a lot. Been a fan since his WAZZU days. Posted about him in last years “Prospects To Follow” thread when i thought he was coming out. He’s an exciting player w/a gunslinger style. Dude is must see TV, for sure. Ward’s killing it right now too, at The U. But as much as i like him, i dont think he’s that much better than Rattler.
Ward’s bigger, has better stats & more wins compared to Rattler, but their play style & athletic attributes are very similar. Ward’s a better runner, but Rattler has the better arm. I’ll also add the Ward was/is on better teams & played w/more talented players vs Rattler, who was literally running for his life.
What makes them comparable to me, is their decision making & penchant for never giving up on a play. This is both a good & bad thing. Ward’s been better this year, but he has documented issues w/ball security, namely fumbles, & he also throws way too many yolo balls & makes panic throws when under pressure. He gets away w/it a lot, but in the NFL, i doubt he’ll be so lucky. But the biggest difference between the Ward & Rattler, is that Ward is finishing his college career hot. He’s undefeated & has The U currently at 4 in the nation.
If Rattler had similar success, im pretty sure his draft status & where he got picked wouldve been much different story. Im a big fan of Ward, but we do already have Rattler. So, on that note, I hope we pass on QB completely in 25, w/eyes in 26 where Nico Imaleava, Jackson Arnold & maybe even Arch Manning (if he declares) will be coming out. I think we should stock up on talent to surround our future QB1 w/so when we find that guy, he’ll hit the ground running.