Tyler Van Dyke Savors Fresh Start As He Competes For Wisconsin QB Job After Transferring From Miami

MADISON, Wis.: Former Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is hoping his switch to Wisconsi n will help the previous Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the yr recapture the shape he confirmed earlier in his profession.

“I’m excited about that, just getting back to playing like myself and launching the ball downfield,” Van Dyke mentioned Friday.

There’s no assure Van Dyke opens the season because the starter at his new faculty.

During spring observe, Van Dyke has been splitting first-team reps with Braedyn Locke, who began three video games for Wisconsin instead of an injured Tanner Mordecai final season. Wisconsin’s solely different quarterback with any school expertise is Nick Evers, who appeared in a single sport with Oklahoma in 2022.

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo described it as a wide-open competitors.

“I think by the time spring ball is over or by the time we’re midway through August camp, anybody that knows anything that’s here is going to know who that guy is because he’s declared it himself with his execution,” Longo mentioned.

Coach Luke Fickell believes the competitors ought to speed up Van Dyke’s progress in a brand new system.

“Working with a guy that’s been in the offense, that knows it like the back of his hand in Braedyn, I think that … puts a little bit more pressure on him (Van Dyke), but I think he’s done a great job,” Fickell mentioned this week. “I think we’re going to see him kind of continue to come out of his shell, and not just as a football player, but as a leader as well.”

This marked the second straight offseason through which Fickell went to the switch portal to discover a quarterback with beginning expertise.

Mordecai was the Badgers’ clear-cut starter final yr after throwing for a school-record 72 touchdowns at SMU from 2021-22. Mordecai ended up finishing 65% of his passes for two,065 yards with 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 10 video games whereas serving to Wisconsin go 7-6 in Fickell’s debut season.

Van Dyke’s monitor file at Miami is extra of a combined bag.

The 6-foot-4 quarterback began Miami’s remaining 9 video games in 2021 and was named the ACC rookie of the yr. Van Dyke accomplished 62.3% of his passes for two,931 yards with 25 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

After lacking components of six video games as a result of a shoulder harm in 2022, Van Dyke handled hand and leg accidents whereas changing into extra turnover-prone final yr. His 12 interceptions in 2023 surpassed his 2021-22 mixed whole of 11.

After Van Dyke threw three interceptions and misplaced a fumble in a 20-6 loss to North Carolina State final fall, Miami opted to begin Emory Williams as an alternative in opposition to Florida State. Although he regained his beginning spot as soon as Williams suffered a season-ending arm harm within the loss to the Seminoles, Van Dyke entered the switch portal on the finish of the common season.

“I think it was time,” Van Dyke mentioned. “I had a lot of ups and downs at Miami. I think coming here’s a really good fresh start, especially with someone like coach Longo.”

Van Dyke’s accustomed to creating new begins.

He performed for various offensive coordinators every of the final three seasons at Miami. His 2021 breakthrough season got here with Rhett Lashlee, who left after that yr to grow to be SMU’s head coach. Josh Gattis changed Lashlee as Miami’s offensive coordinator however was fired after one season, with Shannon Dawson taking up.

“Learning a new offense, it’s old hat for him because he’s so used to doing it,” Longo mentioned. “He’s done a really, really good job in a very short amount of time of understanding and learning the terminology and understanding how we run everything.”

Van Dyke famous he had his most success whereas enjoying for Lashlee, who operated extra of an Air Raid sort of offense. He believes that makes him a great match for Longo’s personal Air Raid assault.

He additionally has some familiarity with this place.

Van Dyke mentioned he visited Wisconsin a few occasions when former Badgers coach Paul Chryst recruited him out of highschool. He mentioned rising up in Connecticut has helped him regulate to the adjustments related to shifting from Miami to Wisconsin.

“Totally different vibe here,” Van Dyke mentioned. “More of a college feel than Miami was. Coming from Connecticut, it’s kind of the same type of vibe, weather-wise and living style.”

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AP school soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)