QB Tyler Van Dyke Doesn’t Look the Part

This is now the third time I’ve studied QB Tyler Van Dyke (transferred from Miami to Wisconsin on Dec. 12), and each time, he’s dropped further on my draft board.

From being the 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year to things not working out in Miami, Van Dyke isn’t trending in the right direction.

Inconsistent.

That’s the one word I would use to describe Van Dyke if I was sitting in a scouting meeting and it was my turn to talk about him. That’s also the last word any NFL team wants to hear associated with a QB prospect. Van Dyke was 15-13 as a starter at Miami and that perfectly summarizes his game film.

I’m not the only one who’s down on Van Dyke either.

“He can be two different people,” an ACC head coach told the Athletic according to Bleacher Report. “He’s got a lot of arm talent. I think he played hurt this year and he was wildly inconsistent. Maybe he just needs a refresh.”

There’s that word again ⎯inconsistent.

Not showing needed NFL traits

Certain traits translate well to the NFL, such as QBs who go through their progressions and QBs who can quickly get the ball out of their hand.

That’s not Van Dyke.

From the first time I studied him on 2021 film until now, his release looks slower. His arm strength also looks weaker (missed the second half of the 2022 season with a third-degree AC joint sprain of his right throwing shoulder).

LOCKING IN WITH RECEIVERS + SLOW RELEASE = UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE NFL

Low energy

This is what was most concerning to watching Van Dyke in 2023 ⎯he looked sluggish and didn’t bring any sense of urgency to Miami’s offense.

Van Dyke looked like he was going through the motions.

Miami tried replacing him with true freshman QB Emory Williams in November, but Williams broke his arm and they had to go back to Van Dyke.

Taking chances

This is who he is. He is a risk taker as a passer.

Sometimes it works, and he laces passes beautifully between defenders, and other times, his passes are broken up, or worse, intercepted.

One thing I’ll say about Van Dyke, he’s fearless.

What was that?

Every so often, Van Dyke throws a “what were you thinking pass.”

These are ill-advised passes that have no chance.

At times, he fails to see defenders or read coverages properly. He threw some brutal interceptions.

Say something positive

Van Dyke has a knack for the big play. He was 14/21 (66.7%) on his deep passing attempts that I charted in these 11 games.

That’s enough to get him into an NFL training camp.

Granted, some of the deep passes were underthrown and receivers had to adjust back to make the catch, but he still completed them.

His deep passes were the most improved part of his game in 2023.

#9 Tyler Van Dyke 6-foot-4, 230 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Summer Grade: UDFA (I wouldn’t sign him)

Projected by 0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of July 17, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Hurricanes’ QB Tyler Van Dyke Is A Loose Cannon (2021: 3 games evaluated)

Can Hurricanes’ QB Tyler Van Dyke Win Games in the NFL? (2022: 3 games evaluated)

2023 game film evaluated: Texas A&M, North Carolina, Boston College, FSU, Temple, Miami (OH), Louisville, Bethune-Cookman, Georgia Tech, Virginia, and NC State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Erratic methodical prospect with big play capability. Prostyle pocket passer. Lumbers setting up. Robotic form (overhand and sidearmed). Poised and tough. Lacks pocket awareness. Lacks escapability. Tends to lock in. Wide base. Elongated throwing motion. Sometimes torques his right foot when releasing. Can pat the ball pre-delivery. Subpar throwing anticipation. Ball security issues. 21 passes broken up (1.9 per game average) and 12 interceptions in these 11 games (worst games: North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Virginia, and NC State). Hit-and-miss touch passer. Ball placement concerns. Prone to making critical mistakes. Doesn’t run much (24 carries in 2023). Below average as a runner.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. Going through progressions?

2. Arm strength?

3. Throwing it up for grabs?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.