2025 quarterback prospect once projected as first-round talent by Mel Kiper Jr. just lost millions of dollars
Before the Miami Hurricanes were truly back, as they seemed to be in 2024 finally, they seemed destined for a return to greatness in 2021. At the core of their resurgence was redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. His breakout 2021 campaign put him on the fast track to NFL draft glory. It might seem […]
Before the Miami Hurricanes were truly back, as they seemed to be in 2024 finally, they seemed destined for a return to greatness in 2021. At the core of their resurgence was redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. His breakout 2021 campaign put him on the fast track to NFL draft glory.
It might seem funny now, as Van Dyke never matched his quality of play in 2021 and transferred to Wisconsin this offseason. But, Van Dyke was once projected as a first-round quarterback by ESPN NFL Draft Expert and industry titan Mel Kiper Jr.
Unfortunately, Van Dyke suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 against Alabama, likely ending his collegiate career.
Van Dyke completed 62.3 percent of his throws for 2,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only six interceptions in 2021. He really was an interesting prospect, showing off a strong arm and traditional dropback style that was still not fully out of style at the time.
The upside was clear to see. There's always a market for guys who are comfortable under center. But Van Dyke's inconsistent accuracy and poor play against pressure became unavoidable issues over the next 20 games in Miami.
Van Dyke never found his stride for longer than a week or two at a time after 2021. He completed almost 66 percent of his passes in 2023, but turnovers and injuries again hampered some bright spots. BLESTO scouting service had Van Dyke with a draftable grade even entering this year because of his raw tools, but he'd be a late-round pick at best.
Still, his first year at Wisconsin offered some hope for a fresh start and draftable future. Van Dyke has the arm, stature, and experience that teams could spend a Day 3 pick on. We've seen worse quarterbacks taken in recent years, including Jake Luton and Sean Clifford.
But a torn ACL after throwing only 68 passes at Wisconsin will further cost TVD money. A seventh-round pick nets around $4 million over four years. An undrafted free agent often gets a signing bonus well south of $100,000 to come try out before getting a non-guaranteed deal.
Injuries suck, and hopefully we'll see Van Dyke bounce back in the future.
