Position Quarterback College Houston (2013–2016) Place of birth Tyler, Texas Weight 79 kg | Class Senior High school Tyler (TX) John Tyler Height 1.78 m Education University of Houston | |
Date of birth (1995-07-12) July 12, 1995 (age 21) Current team Houston Cougars football (#1 / Quarterback) Date joined 2013 (Houston Cougars football) Similar Tom Herman, Major Applewhite, Donnel Pumphrey, Baker Mayfield, Kyle Postma | ||
Gregory Mario Ward Jr. (born July 12, 1995) is an American football quarterback. He played college football for the Houston Cougars.
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Early years
Gregory Mario Ward Jr. was born and raised in Tyler, Texas. One of four children, Ward grew up in a "modest ranch house." Ward's father worked as a truck driver and Pentecostal pastor.
Ward graduated from John Tyler High School in 2013. As a senior, he passed for 4,202 yards and 39 touchdowns with 861 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. As a junior, he threw for 3,596 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,212 yards with 18 touchdowns. He played wide receiver his sophomore year and recorded 53 receptions for 667 yards with eight touchdowns. Ward was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to the University of Houston to play college football.
College career
As a true freshman at Houston in 2013, Ward appeared in 10 games as a backup quarterback and wide receiver. He passed for 310 yards with a passing touchdown, rushed for 176 yards with two touchdowns and had 95 receiving yards and a touchdown. Ward started his sophomore year as a starting wide receiver, recording 15 receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown. In October, Ward took over as the starting quarterback, replacing the benched John O'Korn. He started the final eight games, completing 177 of 263 passes for 2,010 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also added 573 rushing yards with six touchdowns. Ward remained Houston's starter his junior year in 2015. He was named the MVP of the 2015 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game after rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns. On December 31, 2015, Ward helped the Cougars win the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against No.9 Florida State and was named Offensive Player of the Game.
