CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Cam Ward let his arm do the talking at his Pro Day on Monday.
Well, most of it.
The University of Miami quarterback did do a little bit of talking himself.
Case in point: After executing a fake handoff and making a throw, Ward rolled toward Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker and General Manager Mike Borgonzi on the sideline, and uttered these words:
"I told them I was solidifying it today," Ward said with a smile. "They finally got a chance to see me throw in person, and I'll get another chance hopefully to throw in front of them. But that's a good building they have in (Tennessee), a good support staff. I was just happy to be able to throw in front of them for the first time."
Brinker and Borgonzi smiled, too.
And, after watching Ward's Pro Day, Titans head coach Brian Callahan nodded approvingly as well.
"It was a good workout," Callahan said with a smile. "It was a good workout."
Miami's Pro Day drew a crowd on Monday, and it included a large group from the Titans, from Brinker to Borgonzi to Callahan to offensive coordinator Nick Holz to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree. Reggie McKenzie and Dave Ziegler from the front office were also on hand, among others.
For the Titans, this was their first chance to see Ward in person after spending time with him at the NFL Combine, and during Ward's visit to Nashville earlier this month. The Titans are scheduled to conduct a private workout with Ward in Florida on Friday.
They'll follow a similar plan when they attend Colorado's Pro Day, and conduct private workouts with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and defensive back/receiver Travis Hunter next month. The Titans have already spent time with both of those players, along with Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, as they do their homework leading up to the NFL Draft.
Armed with the first overall pick, the Titans came to south Florida to see Ward's throwing arm in person for the first time, other than Brinker's trip in the fall to see Ward play in a game against Georgia Tech.
Borgonzi and Callahan said they've enjoyed spending time with Ward during the process.
"It's been great, just being able to sit down and get to know the kid more, learn about his family, where he grew up, his journey, which is a unique experience, from being a zero-star recruit to going to Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami," Borgonzi said. "He's gotten better over the years.
"And, all the talks we've had, it seems like he's wired right for the position."
Callahan spent time with Ward after Tuesday's workout as well.
"There's a like to like about him," Callahan said. "You can tell he came from a really good family, he's been raised right. He has a really good personality, he's fun to talk to, he's fun to be around. But he has a serious side, he's focused, he's determined. It's important to him. He wants to be a really good player. He has the right mix of the and seriousness. He's been really fun to get to know."
Callahan said he was wanting confirmation at Pro Day on Monday, and he got it.
Ward was accurate on short throws, and he hit on some long ones as well, including a beautiful pass to Miami receiver Jacolby George that traveled 50-plus yards, and hit him in stride.
Ward rolled to his left and his right on throws, and he even showed off a spin move.
When a ball hit the ground, Ward and the receiver repeated the play to get it right.
Ward made touch throws, and he rifled others to their destination.
On the final play of the Pro Day, Ward even caught a pass.
"His tape is excellent, he's a really good player," Callahan said of Ward. "Here, it just kind of confirms it. You get to see the ball come off his hands, and you get to see his footwork, see his body, see how the ball travels. Those are all things you like to see in person."
Ward, who set the NCAA record with 158 touchdown passes in his career at Incarnate Word (two years), Washington State (two years) and Miami (one season) was happy with how his Pro Day went.
"I think it went good, from me working on the clean drops I've been working on for months," he said. "The receiving corps getting done what they need to get done route wise, getting in and out of cuts. I think all of us had a good day."
He said he's enjoyed his interaction with the Titans.
"From the president, Mr. Chad, to Mr. Mike to Mr. Dave, it's all been good," said Ward, who threw for 4,313 yards and a school-record 39 touchdown passes en route to being named ACC Player of the Year last season with the Hurricanes. "Especially with coach Callahan. I think what he does offensively suits me from what I did in Miami, and at previous stops. The terminology is not that big of a difference, he gets his guys open, he calls great plays.
"I just think if I get a chance to play with him, we'd have a real good outcome."
After Monday's Pro Day, no one with the Titans was guaranteeing Ward would be the pick.
The NFL Draft is still a month away, and the Titans have more time to spend with other prospects, and Ward.
At this point, the Titans still aren't sure what a trade offers could potentially come from other teams.
Ward made another case for himself on Monday, but he'll have to wait and see himself.
"I can only control what I can control," Ward said. "I can't turn the card in myself. If Tennessee, if they get me, I'll be happy to be there for sure. But at the end of the day, I am just ready to see where I'm going to be at, maybe with Tennessee, Cleveland or New York."
