Tyler Van Dyke on watch lists shows national confidence in him

Tyler Van Dyke was named to national watch lists for the Comeback Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm earlier this week. Earning spots on those watch lists shows confidence in Van Dyke from a national perspective. Van Dyke is hoping for a bounce-back 2023 season after injuries and ineffectiveness in 2022.

Tyler Van Dyke has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 4,766 passing yards with 35 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his two seasons as the primary quarterback for the Miami football team. Van Dyke missed three complete games in 2022 and parts of three others because of a shoulder injury.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award honors the top senior or upperclassman QB ready to graduate. Unitas was a Pro Football Hall of Fame QB. The watch list was selected based on the player’s career production and his 2023 expectations. Van Dyke was one of eight ACC QBs chosen to the Unitas watch list.

Van Dyke was 14th nationally in 2022 averaging 293.1 yards per game and 27th in TD passes. In 2022, Van Dyke finished 74th nationally averaging 203.89 yards per game. Van Dyke finished 103 nationally with 10 TD passes in 2022. If Van Dyke can stay healthy in 2023, he should have a comeback season.

Van Dyke is one of 13 ACC players that includes his teammate, tight end Eliah Arroyo named to the preseason watch list for the Comeback Player of the Year. Three National Comeback Players of the Year have been chosen annually since 2018. Florida State QB McKenzie Milton is the only ACC player named Comeback Player of the Year.

Van Dyke is expected to thrive under new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. Expect Miami to throw deep more often in 2023. The Dawson offense is vastly different than the system Miami ran in 2022 under former offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. Miami begins its season on September 1 versus Miami (Ohio).