Tyler Van Dyke, QB, SMU
Size:
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 227 lbs
Accomplishments:
ACC Rookie of the Year (2021) • ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year (2021)
“Tyler Van Dyke is an experienced passer and functional athlete who makes throws on the run or from the pocket with legitimate NFL arm talent.”
Strengths:
Pocket movement in the face of pressure
Combination of NFL size and arm talent
Vertical passer
Functional athleticism
Concerns:
Protecting the football (too many throws into dangerous windows)
Staring down his predetermined reads
Utilizing eyes to manipulate and move coverage defenders
Film Analysis:
Tyler Van Dyke was viewed as a potential first-round pick a couple of years ago after his first strong season at Miami. He is well experienced with more than 1,000 pass attempts heading into the 2024 college football season. Van Dyke offers a strong arm with NFL-caliber velocity to fit passes into tight windows. He brings legitimate talent at the QB position to the Wisconsin Badgers’ offense.
Van Dyke throws with velocity and zip to attack tight or smaller throwing windows. He excels at pushing the ball vertically down the field. With his arm talent, Van Dyke lays the football outside the numbers and deep into the secondary. He can throw his WR upfield and away from coverage. He flashes the ability to toggle between velocity and zip when throwing down the field. Van Dyke can throw with an arc to get enough air underneath passes to give his WR a chance to run underneath it.
Van Dyke is a functional athlete who can use his legs to evade pressure and slide in the pocket. He can extend plays and create second reaction throws. Van Dyke is solid throwing on the move whether by design or being forced to move the launch point because of the defensive pressure applied.
Van Dyke’s need for improvement centers on decision-making as a passer. He tends to put the ball into compromising positions during games. Van Dyke stares down his predetermined read and throws the ball into defensively-loaded windows. Improving on using his eyes to manipulate and move defenders will increase his efficiency as a passer. Van Dyke struggles with proper ball placement and ball control. He struggles with pulling the string and letting passes rip with full force when attempting short to intermediate throws.
In all, Van Dyke is a talented QB prospect with NFL size and weight. He can make all of the throws needed to succeed. That said, with the lack of consistency and decrease in efficiency within his game Van Dyke has an uphill climb to prove to NFL decision-makers he is still worthy of at least a day-two pick. He projects as a backup quarterback, hoping to make strides for a glimmer of hope as an NFL starter.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
