The Miami Hurricanes are looking into where they will go next in the college football offseason. With Cam Ward being drafted No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, Miami now sets its sights on his successor, three-star quarterback Dereon Coleman.
As the 2025 Elite 11 Finals kicked off on Tuesday, Coleman spoke with 247 Sports. In his interview, the Miami commit compared himself to former Hurricanes star quarterback Ward. He feels like he is the next Ward, which could spell some great things for Miami.
Is Dereon Coleman The Next Cam Ward? Coleman Predicts Hurricanes’ National Championship
Hurricanes fans will get an early glimpse at their future at the quarterback position later this month. Coleman will compete at the prestigious Elite 11 Finals. This is truly one of the most highly regarded high school football calendar events.
For those who don’t know, the Elite 11 pits the nation’s top quarterback prospects against one another in a multi-day showcase of skill, decision-making, and the ability to perform well under some intense pressure.
He will compete with Texas Longhorns commit Dia Bell, Tennessee’s Faizon Brandon, USC’s Jonas Williams, Penn State’s Troy Huhn, and Houston’s Keisean Henderson. This is some amazing talent to be featured alongside.
Despite being one of the more underdog-type names in the group, Coleman enters the Elite 11 with a chance to raise his national stock considerably. His competitive edge, improvisation ability, and strong arm should shine in the drills and seven-on-seven matchups that the Elite 11 truly is.
In his interview with 247 Sports, Coleman said that he told Miami’s director of scouting, Andrew Ivins, and national recruiting analyst Tom Loy, “They saw what Cam did, and they only got a year of that. Imagine me being there for three or four years. That says it all. We’re going to win a National Championship.”
For the Hurricanes, landing Coleman is a significant milestone. The South Florida native enters the Elite 11 as one of just a handful of unranked signal-callers in the ESPN 300. With that said, his inclusion and invitation to be involved speak louder than ever about his upside. He could more than help Miami bring a National Championship back to the Sunshine State.
As a Quarterback..
You can have all the measurables..
You can have all the politics..
You can have all the money..But you better be accurate & consistent. @DereonColemanQB in his 1st day at @Elite11 showing us why he’s ELITE with effortless touch, twitch & ACCURACY… pic.twitter.com/p3pqPtkpzr
— Baylin Trujillo (@baylintrujillo) June 18, 2025
Coleman already resembles his college’s former quarterback, Ward. His ability to throw off-platform, extend plays, and deliver downfield strikes on the move is reminiscent of Ward’s. His confidence and arm talent make him a potential nightmare for opposing defenses.
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He brings a dynamic, playmaking style that perfectly fits the quarterback spot. He is exactly what head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson are looking for in the long term. Coleman will have the chance to prove that. He’ll have the early opportunity to prove his talent belongs on the national stage.
For Miami fans, this isn’t just another random offseason event. It’s much more than that. This is a chance to see their future quarterback match up with some of the best. Miami fans have much to be excited about regarding their future, and the future of Coleman as a whole. A National Championship could be in the books. This could be the beginning of something special at Miami.
