Miami's Mario Cristobal reveals what Mel Kiper Jr. never did for Cam Ward while hyping Shedeur Sanders

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal was visibly and audibly excited about his latest recruitment win, landing No. 1 overall 2026 prospect Jackson Cantwell. It once again spotlighted Cristobal’s elite recruiting track record—just like when he brought in last year’s Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward from the transfer portal.

Ward, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft, had one of the more impressive pre-draft rises in recent memory. After transferring to Miami from Washington State, he flourished under Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, throwing for over 4,300 yards and 39 touchdowns while leading the Hurricanes to an 10-win season.

Despite Ward’s electric season and the eventual No. 1 selection, much of the pre-draft media spotlight remained on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who ultimately fell to the fifth round. One of Sanders’ most vocal supporters throughout the draft process was longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who repeatedly projected Sanders as a first-round pick—even ahead of Ward in multiple mock drafts.

Now, Cristobal has addressed the situation. According to a post from Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, the Miami head coach said he “spoke to a million people” during Ward’s pre-draft evaluation—including just about every NFL team and national outlet—but never heard from Kiper.

“I can’t recall many NFL teams or TV people I didn’t speak to,” Cristobal said. “Never heard from him. I don’t think I’ve ever talked to him.”

Cristobal didn’t express personal frustration with Kiper’s decision to overlook Ward but did make it clear that his only concern would’ve been if it bothered his quarterback.

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“The only reason I would be disappointed was if Cam was,” Cristobal said. “But knowing Cam, he just wanted to hear the name and exactly where he was going and get to work.”

Ward, for his part, never appeared caught up in the debate, keeping his focus on performance. That mindset may have paid off, as he now begins his NFL journey as a franchise quarterback with the Titans—while Cristobal continues to build a recruiting empire in Coral Gables.