Cam Ward and Kyron Drones, once cousins and training partners, now find themselves facing off as opponents.

Every week, Darrell Colbert Jr. holds a group FaceTime call with the quarterbacks he coaches, analyzing their highs and lows. The competitive spirit that defines their offseason workouts spills into these calls as they compare stats, throws, and even mistakes. But this week, the call didn’t happen.

Not with Cam Ward and Kyron Drones preparing to face each other Friday night in a pivotal ACC matchup between No. 7 Miami and Virginia Tech (7:30 ET, ESPN/ESPN App). There’s nothing left to say until the final whistle blows.

Their journey to this moment highlights the unpredictable nature of a quarterback's career. Both hail from Texas, cousins on their mothers’ side, but their paths diverged early: Ward, under-recruited, and Drones, a four-star prospect. Both eventually found their way to their current teams through the transfer portal—Ward now leading Miami as an early-season Heisman contender, and Drones finally feeling at home as Virginia Tech’s quarterback.

If you had told Colbert when he first started training Ward and Drones that one day he’d be flying to Miami to watch them square off, he would’ve laughed.

“This was never supposed to happen,” Colbert said.

Ward and Drones grew up just an hour apart outside Houston but didn’t know they were related until high school, when they each sought out a coach to improve their skills. Their fathers connected at a workout with retired Texas coaching legend Steve Van Meter, discovering that their wives were cousins who had lost touch over the years. Cam and Kyron’s training sessions allowed the families to reconnect, strengthening the bond between the young quarterbacks.

When Van Meter returned to coaching, Drones and Ward found themselves needing a new quarterback coach. Drones was introduced to Colbert in 2019, during his junior year of high school. Colbert had connections to Drones’ coaching staff, which made the pairing natural. Ward joined Colbert’s training in 2021 after spending a year at FCS Incarnate Word.

“We definitely got closer once we started training together,” Kyron Drones said. “It gets real competitive. We talk a lot of trash, pick each other’s brains, and push to get better. Our goal is the NFL, and hopefully, we’ll be in the same draft.”

Ward graduated in 2020, a year before Drones. Playing in a wing-T offense at West Columbia High, Ward rarely had the opportunity to showcase his arm. Recruiting attention was scarce until he started working with Van Meter, who recognized his potential during an early training session.

Van Meter asked Ward to throw a 15-yard out from the right hash to the left. When Ward hit the receiver perfectly, Van Meter told Calvin Ward, “He’s one of the best 6-2 quarterbacks I’ve ever coached.”

That moment shifted Ward’s mindset. Though college basketball had been his goal, he began to focus on football. After attending numerous camps, Ward’s only scholarship offer came from Incarnate Word.

Drones’ journey was different. After leading Shadow Creek High to a state title in 2019, offers began to roll in. Initially favoring Auburn, Drones’ recruitment was impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown. He eventually accepted a Power 5 offer from Baylor, but after two years as a backup, he sought a fresh start. Virginia Tech quickly became his landing spot.

“He wanted someone who’d give him a real chance,” said his father, Kevin Drones. “Virginia Tech was honest from the start, and that’s what he needed.”

Drones arrived in Blacksburg in 2023 and didn’t start right away, only taking over after an injury to Grant Wells. He made the most of his opportunity, earning the starting job and breaking a Military Bowl record with 176 rushing yards in Virginia Tech’s win over Tulane.

Meanwhile, Ward flourished at Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State, where he threw for over 6,000 yards in two seasons. After the 2023 season, Ward entered the transfer portal again, eyeing a Power 5 opportunity. Although he initially declared for the NFL draft, Miami’s persistent interest—and a conversation with his father—convinced him to return to college.

Ward joined Miami just before the draft deadline, and preseason expectations soared. As the ACC schedule was released, Ward and Drones circled their matchup on Sept. 27.

“I’ve had this game circled,” Drones said.

Colbert, who watched his other quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, face Ward last year, offered advice: “Cam’s not going to talk to you this week, and don’t expect him to say hey before the game.”

Ward and Drones’ offseason workouts were fueled by this looming matchup. Ward, never shy about trash talk, was quick to critique Drones' throws during drills. “Cam would say, ‘That’s a pick against my guys,’ or ‘That’s a turnover on downs, I’m scoring now,’” Colbert said.

Ward credits Colbert’s training, alongside Drones and Sanders, for improving his game. “Darrell’s one of the best,” Ward said. “He lets us play our style but also makes us focus on the details.”

Ward’s season is off to a blistering start, ranking second in the nation in passing yards with 1,439, leading Miami to its best offensive start in years. Virginia Tech, at 2-2, is still finding its footing, with Drones accounting for 974 total yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.

But as Ward pointed out, none of that matters now. ACC play begins with a highly anticipated showdown, one that’s bound to be emotional for the Ward and Drones families. Kevin Drones won’t be able to attend due to his own coaching duties, but both families will be well-represented in the stands.

As for Colbert, he’s hoping for an unforgettable game. “I just want to turn on social media all weekend and see Kyron Drones and Cam Ward everywhere,” he said.

When asked about the upcoming game, Ward remained focused. “I’m just ready to play.”

Drones, on the other hand, couldn’t help but add, “Cam’s going to see when we play Miami. I’ll show him who the real No. 1 is.”