Tyler Van Dyke Made The Right Choice In Sticking With Miami | Opinion
For several hours from late Wednesday night into Thursday afternoon, Tyler Van Dyke's future in orange and green appeared to be in question.
Reports were swirling that the Alabama Crimson Tide were attempting to entice Miami's starting quarterback into the Transfer Portal.
I can understand how the possibility of playing for a powerhouse team, surrounded by future NFL talent, would be tempting. Van Dyke may have considered how his NFL Draft stock could be impacted. Bryce Young is about to become the third Alabama signal caller drafted in the first round over the past four years. Reports suggested that Alabama collectives were offering significant NIL funds.
By Thursday evening, Van Dyke had made his intentions clear to Miami's decision makers, that he was staying put in Coral Gables.
Relentlessly working. All focus on 2023. 100% CANE!#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/AOdLDYhqol
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) April 20, 2023
I strongly believe that staying with the Miami Hurricanes was the correct choice. Here's why.
For starters, Van Dyke is the unquestioned starting quarterback in Miami. Jacurri Brown is improving, but he's not ready to take TVD's job just yet. Emory Williams, the early enrollee freshman, needs more seasoning.
Had Van Dyke gone to Alabama, nothing would have been guaranteed beyond an opportunity. Do you think Nick Saban is just gonna hand the starting job to a transfer? That’s not how he runs his operation.
Van Dyke would have had to compete with second year quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, both of which were higher rated recruits coming out of high school. Simpson is a former 5-star and Milroe a 4-star. The edge Van Dyke would hold over them is experience (the other two have one combined start,) but you can argue that both have higher ceilings than he does.
How catastrophic would it be for Van Dyke to transfer only to ride the bench somewhere else?
Familiarity is another factor. Tyler literally just learned another new offense at Miami. Shannon Dawson's air raid offense fits him quite well on paper. Switching to Alabama would require him to learn his fourth playbook in four years.
Van Dyke has built chemistry on the field with WR's Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Colbie Young and others. That wasn't built overnight. He's creating a strong bond with transfer center Matt Lee. He helped recruit Lee while the former UCF man was in the Portal.
Perhaps Alabama had even more to offer financially, but Van Dyke does have a good NIL situation in South Florida. I hear there are around 20 businesses and collectives backing him.
I can forgive Van Dyke for doing his due diligence. For many of you, he will have rebuild your trust.
He struggled with inconsistency and injury in 2022. Before his season was shortened from a shoulder issue, Van Dyke threw for 1,844 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. That came after a breakout freshman campaign in 2021 where he threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 25 touchdowns and 6 INTs.
If he gets off to a slow start in the 2023 season, Miami fans will turn on him quickly. He knows that. But if he lights it up this season, forgiveness will be easier to come by. He's worked hard to get to this point at The U. It's his team. If he wins, it can be his town, too.
Sticking with Miami was the right move.
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