Source: Florida State Top transfer Target closing in on decision

The top available transfer QB will decide between staying in college and entering the NFL Draft in the “next few days.”

Washington State transfer quarterback Cameron Ward is closing in on a decision. Ward is expected to decide between transferring to a new school and entering the NFL Draft in the “next few days,” per a source.

Ranked as the No. 8 overall player and No. 3 quarterback in the 247Sports transfer rankings, Ward is one of the most in-demand players on the open market. He’s taken official visits to Miami and Florida State and has received heavy interest from USC, Nebraska, Louisville, Washington and many others.

Most of the conversation surrounding Ward’s process has centered around his transfer options, however, a source told 247Sports that entering the NFL Draft remains under legitimate consideration. When Ward announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal, he did so while saying he plans on “evaluating the 2024 NFL Draft as well as intending to enter my name in the transfer portal.”

If Ward does choose to transfer instead of entering the draft, it’s expected an announcement of his next choice of school would come quickly.

Arguably the top starting quarterback in the portal, Ward is among the most highly sought after players on the open market. Ward finished the 2023 season with 3,735 yards passing and 25 touchdowns against 7 interceptions while completing 66.6% of his passes. Ward’s 3,735 yards passing ranked fifth nationally among all FBS quarterbacks.

The 6-foot-2, 223-pounder from tiny West Columbia, Texas, began his college career at FCS Incarnate Word in San Antonio. He won the Jerry Rice Award, which is given annually to the top freshman in the FCS, during the 2021 spring season. Later that fall he led all FCS passers with 47 touchdowns to go along with 4,648 yards passing.

When Ward entered the portal during the 2021 season, a Power Five source said of Ward: “The dude is an absolute freak.”

The sentiment hasn’t changed much in the two years since. Ward followed Incarnate Word head coach Eric Morris to Washington State when Morris took the Cougars’ OC job two years ago. This time, Ward has a national market with many of the top QB-needy programs recruiting him.

Ward was a lightly recruited quarterback out of high school. He came from a town of just 3,873 people and ran a Wing-T offense in high school. But given a chance to throw a lot in San Antonio and later Pullman, he’s emerged as one of the top overall quarterbacks in the country.

What is the NCAA transfer portal?

The portal is an online database that players will enter their name into if they decide to pursue a transfer. Players notify their current school’s compliance office that they wish to put their name into the portal — typically, players’ names show up within 48 hours. Coaches have access to the database and can contact any player who has entered.

When will the transfer portal open?

Technically, players can enter the portal at any time. But unless they do so within their sport’s official “windows,” they will have to sit out one season. College football has two windows: one following the regular season and one following spring practice. The fall portal window opens Dec. 3, one day after conference championship games. It will remain open for 30 days, closing at the end of the day on Jan. 2, 2024.

Prior to this school year, players had 45 days to enter their name in the portal following the end of the regular season. The NCAA amended that rule this fall, cutting down the window to 30 days.

Is a player forced to leave his school after entering the portal?

No. In fact, players sometimes withdraw their names from the portal and end up staying with their respective programs.

Oftentimes, however, the decision to enter the portal comes with some amount of displeasure on either the player’s side or the program’s side. Most players who enter the portal do not return to their previous school, and they’re often removed from the team immediately upon entering.