Washington State QB Jayden De Laura had similar season to Tyler Van Dyke
The Sun Bowl between Miami and Washington State will feature the ACC and Pac 12 Offensive Freshmen of the Year. Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and Washington State signal-caller Jayden De Laura earned the same honor in the Pac 12.
The 2021 seasons for Jayden De Laura and Tyler Van Dyke mirrored each other. De Laura completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,757 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, nine interceptions and had 100 rushing yards with another three TDs. Van Dyke completed 62.3 percent for 2,931 yards 25 TDs and six interceptions.
Van Dyke added 57 rushing yards and one TD. Both De Laura and Van Dyke have led their teams to 7-5 seasons in their second year in college. In four games, all starts in 2020, De Laura completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 886 yards, five TDs and four ints with 34 rushing yards and two TDs in 2020.
Van Dyke did not complete either of his pass attempts in 2020. Both players would have been granted a redshirt season in 2020 by playing in four games or less. De Laura became the first Washington State player to be named the Pac 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year after leading the conference in passing yards and TDs.
Behind De Laura, Washington State won the Apple Cup rivalry game against Washington for the first time since 2012. De Laura had multiple TD passes in a game eight times this season, five games with three or more TD passes and two 300 yard games. Van Dyke topped those numbers in fewer games.
Van Dyke was one of the hottest QBs in the country over the second half of the season. In the final six games of the regular season, Van Dyke was over 300 yards and had at least three TDs passes in every game. Van Dyke threw for 2,194 yards, 20 TDs and three interceptions in the last six 2021 Miami regular-season games.
Miami finished the regular season with the 10th ranked passing offense averaging 321.2 yards per game. Washington State is not as prolific as they were under current Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach. The Cougars are 41st nationally averaging 259.1 pass yards per game in 2021.
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Washington State is 48th nationally in pass defense allowing 217.4 yards per game. Miami is 101st allowing 250.6. De Laura had one of his best games of the season completing 27 passes in 32 attempts against Washington who had the nation’s best pass defense. North Carolina State was the best pass defense Miami played.