How Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s improved accuracy, confidence has put him in the early Heisman conversation
Before each game this season, Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has taken time to pull out a book. The fourth-year junior picks up “Greatness” by David Cook and reads a few selected passages.
“It’s just a mentality book, a mindset-type thing that I read every time before the game,” Van Dyke said. “Just the little paragraphs that kind of get my mind right.”
Van Dyke’s pregame routine has been working. The veteran quarterback has been tapping every resource he has, from books to sports psychology, and is off to a hot start. He has led No. 17 Miami (4-0) to four straight victories to open the season and has put Van Dyke in the early Heisman Trophy conversation.
“I think the biggest thing at quarterback, the best trait is confidence,” Van Dyke said. “That’s one thing I kind of (focus) on, week-in, week-out. Talk to Eric Goldstein here, the psychologist, read some books just to make sure my mindset’s right, confidence-wise. I think that helps a lot with understanding where to go with the ball and understanding my mechanics. It helps my accuracy immensely.”
Van Dyke’s increased confidence is evident to his teammates.
“He has all the confidence in the world right now, especially in the offensive coordinator and everybody around him,” wide receiver Xavier Restrepo said.
The Hurricanes quarterback did not just work on the mental aspect of his game. He also spent time in the offseason working at QB Country in Mobile, Alabama, to improve his mechanics.
“I feel like my motion’s a little bit shorter,” Van Dyke said. “I think that’s helped my accuracy a lot. My front arm, my front leg, definitely better than it used to be in terms of quarterback mechanics-wise. Seeing the field really well.”
The work is showing on the field. Van Dyke has completed 74.7 percent of his passes for 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns. He threw one interception against Miami (Ohio) in the season opener and has not thrown one since. If you change six drops from Miami receivers to completions, his completion percentage rises to 85.1 percent.
Pro Football Focus gives Van Dyke a 93.3 offensive grade and a 92.9 passing grade. Both are the second-best in the nation among quarterbacks with 100 or more dropbacks. He trails only Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. ESPN gives him a 92 quarterback rating, which trails only Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The entire offense around Van Dyke has been clicking, as well. Miami’s wide receivers have been off to a strong start, and the starting offensive line has done well protecting Van Dyke in the pocket.
“I think that schematically, it fits what he’s comfortable with,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “I do think that a quarterback is a very dependent position. Sometimes when things are going good, they get too much credit and when things are going bad, they get a little too much blame. I would say that 10 other guys around him are doing their job at a very high level. Our O-line, he doesn’t get touched. They’re keeping guys off him; he’s standing upright. That probably has the most to do with his accuracy to be honest with you, and guys are getting open.”
Combine Van Dyke’s increased sharpness, confidence and comfort with Dawson’s scheme with improvements across the board on offense, and you get a Hurricanes unit that currently ranks eighth in the nation in points per game and seventh in yards per game heading into their first ACC game against Georgia Tech (2-3).
“Football’s a team game,” Van Dyke said. “You go out there with 11 guys on offense, 11 guys on defense and we do this stuff together. I can’t play without an offensive line blocking for me. I can’t play quarterback without receivers catching the ball for me and obviously, the running backs running the ball and protecting. So you’ve got to do the stuff together. Everyone has to execute at the same time.”
