Does UR’s big winner at QB have NFL potential?

Eric Ward was not a top-flight recruit, even in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Atlanta resident picked the University of Richmond over Alabama State. By a whisker, Ward won a quarterback competition with Levi Brown (now Troy's QB) and became the Spiders' starter as a redshirt freshman in 2006.

Richmond is 38-10 with Ward taking snaps, and his high level of play was vital in the Spiders capturing last season's FCS title. The 6-2, 210-pounder evolved from mistake-prone freshman to stabilizing veteran who helps UR win with passing, running, and leadership.

"When I was the offensive coordinator at Connecticut last year, I saw him on film against Virginia early in the season and I thought he was good," said Towson coach Rob Ambrose. "Then, I saw him in the national championship game against Montana and I was amazed at the way he developed in one season. He is an outstanding quarterback now."

This season's Spiders are undefeated (6-0 in the CAA, 8-0), winners of 17 straight, and top-ranked in the FCS heading into Saturday's CAA showdown with Villanova (4-1, 7-1). Ward doesn't have a classic delivery, terrific arm strength or eye-catching statistics, but he said he would welcome a chance to play professionally. Does he have what it takes to play in the NFL?

From his coach, Mike London, who spent 2005 as a Houston Texans assistant:

"In my opinion, Eric is a quarterback who, once he gets a chance to get into a camp in the NFL, he's going to surprise a lot of people. Is he that flashy guy first-round, second-round, third-round guy? Maybe not. But I've seen quarterbacks that are the second or third quarterbacks [on NFL rosters] who make a team because of the way they play, heady players, make good decisions, solid.

"I liken Eric to that kind of situation. In the end, he'll be judged and graded after all of the games are over. We'll see what happens . . . I definitely think he's going to get into someone's camp. Whether or not it's a late draft pick or a free agent, I don't know. But I feel fairly confident that he'll get a look from someone."

From an NFL scout who has seen Ward play several times (the scout asked that his name not be used):

"I doubt he'll be drafted. But quarterback is probably the hardest position to make a prediction on because as you can see from past history, some of the guys who were supposedly great ones don't make it and some of the guys who come out of nowhere do.

"He's got one intangible. He's a winner. He knows how to take his team down the field with little time left, with his back to the wall. He's proven himself. Whatever 'it' is, he's got it.

"I don't worry so much about funky deliveries or whatever. It's 'Can he get it there on time? Can he get it there with a little authority?' His arm strength is not the best. But you cannot deny the fact that he's a winner. I'd like to see him against different competition [in postseason all-star games and practices]."

From former UR running back Josh Vaughan, who played with Ward for three seasons and was in preseason camps this year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars:

"I think teams will look at his résumé, and they like guys with experience, guys who have played a lot of games. A lot of times, they'll bring somebody like that in as their No. 3 quarterback.

"He's also a guy who doesn't turn the ball over very often. Makes smart decisions with the ball. Makes plays when you need him to make plays.

"As far as arm strength, that's something that could be improved, maybe. There are some big guys [playing quarterback in the NFL] and they have big arms, but I believe he's just as accurate as those guys, if not more accurate. I don't think arm strength is everything. You just need to be able to put it where it needs to be."

Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233