Heisman notebook: Miami’s Cam Ward talks relationship with CU Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders
NEW YORK Theres more than one connection to Colorado at this years Heisman Trophy ceremony than the obvious.
While Travis Hunter became just the fourth Buffaloes player to be named a finalist for the top individual trophy in college football, Miami quarterback Cam Ward also has a close relationship to the Sanders family.
Ward and CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders have shared the same trainer, Darrell Colbert, for years, working out together during the summer and communicating throughout their respective college careers which both began at the FCS level.
Our relationship is good, Ward said Friday.
We both push each other.
When we work out together in the offseason, its gonna be heated battles.
Were both competitors.
Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward, of Miami, speaks during a college football media availability, Friday, Dec.
13, 2024, in New York.
(AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) They did square off, briefly, last season when the Buffs visited Ward and his former team, Washington State, but Sanders got hurt in the first half of the blowout win for Wards Cougars.
The duo are projected to be the two top quarterbacks taken in next years NFL draft, so that game in Pullman last November probably wasnt the last time they faced off on the football field.
Im pretty sure one day well get a rematch, Ward said.
Figuratively and literally, Boise States Ashton Jeanty is representing the little guy this weekend in New York.
Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty, of Boise State, poses with the trophy during a college football media availability, Friday, Dec.
13, 2024, in New York.
(AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) The star running back, considered the biggest threat to Travis Hunters bid to win the Heisman, is the shortest of the four contenders and hes the only player not from a Power 4 program.
Hes the first Group of Five player to earn a trip to the Heisman ceremony since Northern Illinois Jordan Lynch in 2013.
Hes the first Mountain West player to do so since fellow Boise State legend, quarterback Kellen Moore, went in 2010.
Its something thats not lost on him.
It would mean a lot, Jeanty said when asked about potentially winning the Heisman on Saturday night.
Not just for me and Boise but for the world as a whole, just (to) change everybodys perspective.
I think itll inspire a lot of people.
No matter what school or place you come from, it doesnt matter what odds are against you, if you want to accomplish something, you can do it.
Of the four Heisman finalists, Dillon Gabriel is the elder statesman in the room.
While all but Jeanty have played for multiple schools, Gabriels invitation to New York is the culmination of a six-year journey in college football that has spanned three different schools and so many big games.
The Oregon quarterback is certainly one for sentimentality and said he plans to keep all of his jerseys and helmets from his lone season with the Ducks, which will continue into the College Football Playoff later this month.
I think I still have my Pop Warner jersey from when I was a kid, Gabriel said.
I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind when you have those items and itll all be priceless and things you can appreciate.
Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel, of Oregon, speaks during a college football media availability, Friday, Dec.
13, 2024, in New York.
(AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) As the old head in the room, its not much of a surprise that Gabriel was inundated Friday with questions about the current era of college football dominated by the transfer portal and NIL, something hes witnessed evolve plenty from his freshman year at Central Florida in 2019.
About the wildest world you can live in, Gabriel said.
I think now because its so new its hard to grasp, but in 10, 20 years well appreciate the beginning of it all and how we can create rules that make sense.
For the most part, theres a lot of good..
This article has been shared from the original article on gazette, here is the link to the original article.