Cam Ward could be the first player to come off the board at next month's NFL Draft. The former Miami Hurricanes quarterback set the NCAA record for career touchdown passes with 158 after passing for 4,313 yards, 39 TDs, and only seven INTs (in 454 attempts) in 2024.
Currently, the Tennessee Titans have the No. 1 overall pick.
The Hurricanes have talented players on both sides of the ball who will hear their names called on draft weekend, ten of which were invited to the NFL Combine.
Here are three former Hurricanes that will hear their name called after Ward goes off the board.
Miami Hurricanes QB Cam Ward Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
LB Francisco Mauigoa
A second-team All-ACC selection in 2024, Mauigoa CAT 5 terror on the football field and led the Hurricanes in tackles with 96. In addition, Mauigoa recorded 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, intercepted one pass, broke up five passes, and forced a fumble.
Mauigoa posted four games of double-digit tackles, including three games in a row late in the season. While Mauigoa projects as an undrafted free agent, the hometown Dolphins own seven picks, including multiple picks in the mid to later rounds. The Dolphins need a linebacker and could pull the trigger on Mauigoa on Day 3.
WR Xavier Restrepo
Selected to the first-team All-ACC Team, Restrepo led the Hurricanes with 69 catches for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 16 yards per catch. Restrepo posted six games of over 100 yards receiving, with a season-high 163 yards in a win over Cal. Against Duke, he hauled in eight passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns.
At the NFL Combine, while he did not run the 40-yard dash, Restrepo did attend a meeting with the front office brass of the Buffalo Bills, who have many draft picks with which to draft a talented wide receiver.
TE Elijah Arroyo
Named to the second-team All-ACC in 2024, Arroyo caught 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 16 yards per catch. Arroyo did not work out at the NFL Combine due to knee soreness but will work out for scouts at Miami's Pro Day. He did meet with the Denver Broncos at the Combine.
Broncos coach Sean Payton likes Arroyo's big frame, athleticism, and his ability to create "extra" after the catch. Arroyo suffered an ACL injury early in his college career, so that is something that will factor into Arroyo's overall player evaluation by the Broncos and other teams.
The 2025 NFL Draft will be held during the last weekend in April at the home of the Packers, Green Bay.
Related: Mario Cristobal Explains Why Cam Ward Should Be No. 1 Pick in 2025 NFL Draft
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM.