On Thursday, April 24, former Miami quarterback Cam Ward was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the number one pick. The choice was momentous, as he became the school’s third number one pick in history. Fox Sports noted the moment in a post on X/
Cam Ward’s selection at number one by the Tennessee Titans puts the University of Miami in rarefied air for NFL Draft selections by school.
Miami Hurricanes Join Top 3 of Most First Overall Picks By School With Cam Ward’s Selection
The Hurricanes join USC and Oklahoma in that esteemed category. USC has six number one picks in its school history, and Oklahoma has five.
Cam Ward becomes the third first-overall NFL Draft pick in @CanesFootball history 🙌
Does your school have a first-overall pick? pic.twitter.com/qXBm8gZjmR
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) April 25, 2025
Before Ward, Miami’s other number-one picks came during its heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected QB Vinny Testaverde first overall in the 1987 draft, while the Dallas Cowboys selected DT Russell Maryland in the 1991 draft.
Testaverde and Maryland both enjoyed lengthy careers in the NFL. Maryland was a key part of the Cowboys’ championship dynasty of the 1990s. Testaverde became a two-time Pro Bowler, playing for 21 seasons with multiple teams, including his hometown New York Jets.
The University of Miami got out of a logjam regarding number one picks, as there are now seven schools with two players who’ve been chosen number one in the NFL draft’s common era. Those schools include the University of Texas, Penn State, and LSU.
IT’S DRAFT NIGHT: Top 300 Prospects — Get Your Free Printable 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
For Ward, the selection by the Titans also places him in esteemed company as the team’s first number one selection while in Nashville. As the Houston Oilers, the team had two – they chose defensive end John Matuszak in 1973, and in 1978, they selected Hall-of-Fame running back Earl Campbell.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
