Tyler Van Dyke ACC Rookie of the Year frontrunner

Coming off his fourth ACC Rookie of the Week Award in the last five weeks, Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is making a strong push for the year award. Van Dyke shared the award this week with Clemson’s true freshman running back Will Shipley. Van Dyke has been exceptional the last five weeks.

In his last five games, Tyler Van Dyke has thrown for 1,813 yards 17 touchdowns and three interceptions. Van Dyke is the only freshman quarterback who has had extensive playing time in the ACC. Van Dyke has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,550 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.

The Miami offense has been carried by Van Dyke this season. Van Dyke has accounted for 53.85 percent of Miami’s total yards in 2021. The four ACC Rookie of the Week awards Van Dyke is the most this season. Shipley is second with three. That puts Van Dyke ahead in the race to be the ACC Rookie of the Year.

Van Dyke should pad his numbers this weekend against Duke. The Blue Devils rank 128th nationally in pass defense. Van Dyke threw for a season-high 426 yards with three TDs and one interception against Pittsburgh. In the last five games, Van Dyke has thrown for at least 300 yards and three TDs.

Shipley had 613 total yards and nine TDs. The true freshman RB has had a great season, but his number pales in comparison to what Van Dyke has accomplished. Shipley has been a part of an anemic Clemson offense. The Tigers rank 10th in the ACC in rushing. Behind Van Dyke, Miami is fourth in the ACC in passing.

The future is bright for the Miami offense. In addition to Van Dyke, the Hurricanes have four freshmen running backs and five freshmen WRs that have received a variable amount of snaps in 2021. Miami should continue to have an explosive offense into the 2022 season led by Van Dyke.