Former notorious Miami Hurricanes booster makes bold claim about Cam Ward’s NFL future | Sporting News

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward has had a meteoric rise, going from a zero-star recruit out of high school to a Heisman Trophy finalist. Ward has captivated college football with his record-breaking performances this season, leading the FBS in passing touchdowns and ranking second in passing yards. His incredible season has propelled him into first-round consideration for the 2025 NFL Draft.

One team frequently tied to Ward is the New York Giants, whose scouts attended Miami’s game against Wake Forest earlier this season. Now, a familiar—though controversial—figure from Miami’s past has weighed in on Ward’s NFL future: Nevin Shapiro.

Shapiro, infamous for his involvement in a major NCAA scandal that rocked the Hurricanes football program, appeared on the Adam “Pac-Man” Jones Podcast with a bold claim.

“I’m being told through reliable sources—Cam Ward is going to the New York Giants—guaranteed—and the University of Miami’s offensive coordinator, Shannon Dawson, is going with him,” Shapiro said.

When pressed about the credibility of his sources from Jones, Shapiro added, “Holler at me on April 25th or 26th, whenever the draft is.”

Well-known Miami figure Nevin Shapiro claims on Adam “Pac-Man” Jones’ podcast that Cam Ward and Shannon Dawson will be New York Giants in 2025 pic.twitter.com/jwVfPTfK7J

— Liam Willerup (@theleftyliam) December 10, 2024

Shapiro also suggested that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders would not be heading to the Giants, pointing to speculation that Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father and Colorado’s head coach, would prefer his son to land with the Las Vegas Raiders, who currently hold the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Giants, sitting at No. 2, could then select Ward as their quarterback of the future.

Shapiro’s credibility, however, is questionable. The disgraced former booster served time in federal prison after orchestrating a $930 million Ponzi scheme. During his time in Miami, Shapiro provided improper benefits to Hurricanes athletes, leading to a significant NCAA investigation in 2011 that resulted in penalties for the program.

While it’s unclear how reliable Shapiro’s claims are, the prospect of Ward and Dawson joining the Giants adds intrigue to the upcoming NFL Draft, not to mention the future for the Miami Hurricanes football team.