Tyler Van Dyke leads what should be a deep Miami Hurricanes quarterback unit. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said during his meeting with reporters this week that the Miami quarterbacks are working hard during the first week of spring practice. Gattis also stated the QBs have embraced being leaders.
Van Dyke enters his third year with the Miami Hurricanes after emerging as the face of the football program last season. After being a backup the first three weeks of the 2021 season, Van Dyke was thrust into the starting role following the season-ending shoulder injury to D’Eriq King.
When Jake Garcia was lost with a season-ending ankle injury, Van Dyke was basically the last QB standing. Peyton Matocha added depth. The QB usually sets the culture for a team on offense and is often the leader for the entire team. Van Dyke is in his inaugural spring as the first-team QB. The Miami QBs have a positive attitude.
Getting reps in this spring for all the Miami QBs in a new system is important. Incoming freshman Jacurri Brown was an early enrollee in January and will have a chance to work with the new staff and be mentored by Van Dyke, Garcia and Matocha. Brown will provide Miami with a prototypical dual-threat QB.
"“They work extremely hard…They’ve always got a positive attitude, they’ve got great leadership. I saw those guys compete all winter conditioning through our fourth-quarter program, just competing in everything that they do and that’s first and foremost what you want out of your quarterback position.You want them to be leaders because everyone else is going to follow their leadership…They’ve done a tremendous job.”"
Gattis was quoted by Susan Miller Degnan in the Miami Herald praising his QBs. Miami is in its second straight offseason with a clear leader at QB. Van Dyke entering the offseason as the starter to lead the Miami offense in the first season under Mario Cristobal and Gattis is important in setting the team culture.
Gattis spoke earlier this week about the expectation that the offense will continue to evolve and look different in August than it looks now. The adaptability and leadership from his QBs will be important. The players setting the culture is important for any team. Van Dyke has clearly taken the lead this offseason.