Expect Albany transfer Reese Poffenbarger and sophomore Emory Williams to compete through August training camp to be the backup quarterback on the Miami football team behind Cam Ward in 2024. Wiliams gained valuable experience in 2023 playing in five games and starting two.
Miami has gone all in for the 2024 season with the addition of Ward. Ward is the 14th ranked transfer and fourth QB in the 2024 portal. The addition of Ward late in the winter transfer portal window helped Miami attract high-level transfers this spring.
Miami added 1,000-yard rusher Damien Martinez from Oregon State and 800-yard receiver Sam Brown of Houston in late April. Martinez is the 33rd-ranked transfer and second RB in the 2024 portal. Brown is the 61st ranked 2024 transfer and 10th WR. Miami also fortified its offensive line this winter with Indiana center Zach Carpenter.
Williams completed 62.0 percent of his passes for 470 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in 2023. Williams is a good candidate to redshirt in 2024, with Ward receiving the vast majority of the snaps if he stays healthy. Expect Williams to be ready for August training camp after a torn labrum ended his 2023 season early.
New Miami QBs Cam Ward (1) and Reese Poffenbarger (16) throwing side by side on the first day of spring practice. Ward flicks the ball so easily downfield. pic.twitter.com/m8ySH3lSQf
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) March 4, 2024
Poffenbarger brings two seasons of experience as a starter at the FCS level to the Miami QB room. In two seasons with Albany, Poffenbarger completed 59.07 percent of his pass attempts for 5,969 yards, 56 TDs and 16 interceptions while rushing for 200 yards and another five scores.
Poffenbarger was named second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association and a third-team FCS All-American. Poffenbarger was the 791st-ranked transfer and 67th QB in the 2024 portal. Per Pro Football Focus via David Lake of Inside the U, Poffenbarger received an 81.2 passing grade in 2024 and was an adept downfield passer.
The projections of the Miami football team in 2024 center around Ward. In two seasons at Washington State, Ward completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 6,963 passing yards, 48 TDs and 16 interceptions with 202 rushing yards and 13 scores. Ward was an FCS All-American at Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State.
