With the 2022 season underway, WSU quarterback Cameron Ward is receiving high praise across the nation as he was amongst the 86 players named to the Maxwell Award watch list on Monday. 

The Maxwell Award is given to the most outstanding player in college football. 

Ward brings an accomplished skill as he demonstrated an ability to throw on the run when he was at University of the Incarnate Word.

Amongst quarterbacks from WSU, Gardner Minshew was one of 20 semifinalists in 2018 while Luke Falk and Gabe Marks were also named to the preseason watch lists.

Ward is one of nine Pac-12 players to make the watch list. Other players in the Pac-12 in the watch list are wide receiver Jacob Cowing from Arizona, quarterback Tanner McKee from Stanford, running back Zach Charbonnet and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson from UCLA, wide receiver Jordan Addison and quarterback Caleb Williams from USC and running back Tavion Thomas and quarterback Cam Rising from Utah.

Despite not taking a snap at the FBS level, Ward is familiar with preseason and regular season honors. In 2020, he won the Jerry Rice Award for the most outstanding freshman in FCS, as he completed 183 of 303 passes (60.4 percent) for 2,260 yards and 24 touchdowns.

This past season, the honors rolled in for Ward, being named to FCS second-team All-American, the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and a Walter Payton Award finalist. He led UIW with an impressive record of 10-2 record, completing 384 of 590 passes (65.1 percent) for 4,648 yards and 47 touchdowns.

The 20 semi-finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 1, with the three finalists announced on Nov. 22. The winner will be announced on December 8, and will be given the award by the Maxwell Football Club on March 10, 2023 in Atlantic City, N.J.