Miami Hurricanes fans are still reveling in the fact they got to witness Cam Ward last season.
Though he couldn’t help Miami reach the College Football Playoff, Ward’s legacy will live on in Coral Gables. Breaking multiple Hurricanes records, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist and eventually being selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
The only problem with Ward’s transfer to Miami was that it only lasted a season. Thirteen games representing "The U" was all it took to make his mark after transferring from Washington State.
Now, the Hurricanes are preparing to start another transfer quarterback this season in former Georgia signal-caller Carson Beck. But the future at the position may already feel familiar for fans.
Current 2026 commit Dereon Coleman is said to have a very similar playing style to the Tennessee Titans' first overall pick.
Although he doesn’t rank in ESPN’s top 300, the Elite 11 Finals quarterback is considered a great fit for Miami, according to ESPN’s Tom Luginbill.
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“Regardless of Carson Beck’s production this fall, Coleman will be able to deliver the dynamism that Miami showcased with Cam Ward at the helm, which will make the Hurricanes much more difficult to defend,” Luginbill wrote. “Coleman is the type of player Miami will prefer at quarterback in the long run. He has moxie, a gunslinger’s mentality and a live arm capable of making off-platform plays look routine. Remind you of anyone?”
Coleman, a four-star recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings, is listed at No. 203 nationally and is the 13th-ranked quarterback in the 2026 class. He’s already drawn some compelling reviews from recruiting analysts, including 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.
“Should be viewed as one of the polarizing signal callers in the 2026 cycle given the combination of high-powered arm and suboptimal frame,” Ivins wrote. “Likely to find most success on Saturdays in an up-tempo spread attack.”
If Coleman sticks with his commitment, he’ll likely step in behind 2025 four-star Luke Nickel and redshirt sophomore Emory Williams.
Regardless of what the quarterback room looks like by the time Coleman arrives, he’ll bring plenty of excitement to the program—especially given the comparisons to Ward.