Miami Hurricanes likely QB depth chart versus Alabama

The Miami Hurricanes will play their biggest season opener in recent memory when they travel to Atlanta to play Alabama on September 4. D’Eriq King is expected to be ready less than nine months after having ACL surgery. The competition to back up King will continue into August training camp.

Jake Garcia and Tyler Van Dyke were both impressive this summer and have bright futures ahead of them. Garcia completed 52 passes in 71 attempts for 607 yards and four touchdowns this spring. Van Dyke completed 35 passes in 49 attempts for 406 yards with two TDs. Garcia was more impressive on deep balls.

Behind Garcia and Van Dyke battling to be the second-team QB, are Peyton Matocha in his third years in the Miami Hurricanes football program and walk-on Ryan Rizk. Garcia has quickly acclimated as a 2021 signee and early enrollee to what offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee expects from his QBs.

Van Dyke and Matocha played sparingly behind N’Kosi Perry last season. Perry entered the transfer portal following the 2020 season creating the competition for Garcia and Van Dyke to back up King. With King healthy for the season opener, Miami will have a big advantage in experience over Alabama at QB.

Mac Jones led the Crimson Tide to the 2020 National Championship and moved on to the NFL following the season. Jones is expected to be a high first-round draft pick on Thursday. Against Miami, Alabama will be starting former five-star QB Bryce Young who was Jones’ backup last season.

Having King will be critical against Alabama. It’s a near-impossible task to expect Garcia or Van Dyke to have to play against the Crimson Tide and succeed. It would be the first game for King and the most extensive playing time of his career for Van Dyke.

Miami has a tough early-season schedule to get much playing time for the backup QBs. Following Alabama, Miami host Appalachian State who is one of the best Group of Five programs and Michigan State. The Hurricanes’ final non-conference game is against FCS Central Connecticut State.

The Blue Devils have not played since the 2019 season. CCSU opted out of the Spring FCS season. Garcia and Van Dyke should receive extensive playing time against CCSU if all goes as expected.

The Miami QB room is as good as it has been in a long time. King should challenge to be All-ACC and be one of the best QBs in Miami history. Garcia and Van Dyke working with King helps Miami in the future.