QBs and cousins ​​Cam Ward and Kyron Drones will take center stage for VA Tech in Miami

During his meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Miami quarterback Cam Ward discussed his relationship with Virginia Tech signal-caller Kyron Drones, who is his cousin. Ward mentioned that he and the Drones are working with the same QB coach in the offseason. The QBs will take center stage Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

Ward got off to a sensational start for Miami in his first season with the Hurricanes. Through the first four games this season, Ward has completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 1,439 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions with 89 rushing yards and a score.

Drones has completed 59.8 percent of his pass attempts for 765 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions with 209 rushing yards and another two scores. The number of Drones intercepted in 2024 matches his total in the 2023 season. In 13 games in 2023, the Drones completed 58.2 percent for 2,085 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Ward leads the ACC in passing yards, yards per attempt, passing yards per game, touchdown passes and passer rating. Ward has more than lived up to his selection as ACC Preseason Player of the Year. FanDuel lists Ward as the current favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at plus-350.

“Kyron and I found out we were cousins ​​I would say my freshman year of high school. So not too long ago, about four or five years ago. But it was good. We've been building since we started working with him. I'm just ready to play the game.

– Miami quarterback Cam Ward

Drones ranks second in the ACC in rushing yards and rushing yards per game. Miami faces a quarterback who runs more consistently than he passes for the second game in a row. Expect Miami's game plan to be to keep Drones in the pocket and force him to pass.

After throwing for 322 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the season opener, the Drones have been under 200 yards in each of the last three games. Drones has completed 56.76 of his passes for 443 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions with 190 rushing yards and two touchdowns over the last three games.

The Drones had 12 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown in Virginia Tech's 37-17 win over Old Dominion two weeks ago and nine for 60 against Rutgers last week. Through the first two weeks of this season, the Drones had 31 carries for 32 yards. Miami should be able to turn the Drones into a passer like they did with Byrum Brown for South Florida last week.