Tyler Van Dyke explains the difference in training camp role this year compared to last

Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has entered his first fall camp as the sure-fire QB1 for the Hurricanes. After taking over the role of starter during the regular season last year, Van Dyke discussed what the adjustment has been like during his first full offseason as a leader of the team.

“It’s different but at the same time, I’ve got to work and do what I got to do,” Van Dyke said following the firs day of fall camp. “This year I’m getting reps with the ones and being that leader – it’s a different role and I just had to embrace that, but it’s still football.

“Obviously being a backup, you’re not as vocal as you are going to be as a starter, so that’s definitely a big adjustment, especially for someone like me, who’s more quieter guy. But I feel like I stepped into the role pretty well.”

Van Dyke stepped into the starting job when former starter D’Eriq King suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last September. With King on the sideline last year, Van Dyke stepped up to the plate, delivering 202 of his 342 (62.3 percent) pass attempts for 2,931 yards to go along with a 25-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

His stellar season one year ago has shot him up most experts draft boards, and is now expected to become a first-round pick this coming April; though, Van Dyke has previously said he doesn’t like to focus on the future. Instead, the Miami signal caller wants to improve on the 7-5 record that he helped put together in 2021.

Those five losses weren’t entirely Van Dyke’s fault, though. He took over for King against Michigan State in the third game of the season, leaving Van Dyke to take the reins of a 1-2 Miami squad. As the true starter, he finished the year 6-3 – which still isn’t good enough for the standout quarterback, who could be in his final season at the college ranks.

Van Dyke will look to improve his record as a starter during the Hurricanes’ season-opener against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m. Miami’s first real test won’t come until two weeks later when they travel to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies.