"No one wanted him." How Ward let outsiders' doubt fuel his rise from a no-star recruit to becoming the future face of an NFL franchise.

The 2025 NFL draft delivered its usual mix of emotion, drama and pure unpredictability -- from surprise first-round selections to late-round steals already being labeled "the next big thing." But not everything about draftees shows up on a stat sheet or a film review.

Ward only stayed in the 2024 draft cycle for 13 days before pulling out to transfer to Miami, a decision that led to the Hurricanes' first 10-win season since 2017 and launched Ward from fringe Day 2 prospect to the first player off the board Thursday night.