Wisconsin Football Finds New Starting Quarterback in Transfer Portal

In a significant move for Wisconsin football, the Badgers have secured their new starting quarterback for the 2024 season, welcoming Miami graduate transfer Tyler Van Dyke into the fold.

Van Dyke announced his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers and head coach Luke Fickell on Tuesday, following an official visit, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his tenure at Miami.

#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/sCV3VjUUiJ

— Tyler Van Dyke (@Tyler_Van_Dyke) December 12, 2023

Over 28 starts with the Hurricanes, the Connecticut native accumulated 7,469 passing yards, 54 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, and a career completion rate of 63.7%. Notably, he finished his time at the U under with 11 career games of over 300 passing yards.

Wisconsin Football Dips Into the Portal for Another Quarterback

I should probably start getting used to this because the transfer portal isn’t going anywhere, but Wisconsin football fans will need to become acquainted with another adopted son at quarterback.

Luke Fickell and Phil Longo clearly felt that Braedyn Locke and Nick Evers weren’t ready to push for the starting role and lead the Badgers. They’re under tremendous pressure to win games, and with the Big Ten expanding next season, they decided to lean on experience.

Standing tall at 6-foot-4 and weighing 215 pounds, this graduate transfer brings a veteran presence and expertise to the Badgers and boosts their quarterback depth for the upcoming season, no matter which way you slice it.

Tyler Van Dyke’s advanced numbers, particularly in his completion of 61 BTT, indicate precise ball location and timing, along with an average of 8.2 yards per attempt. That’ll be a welcomed addition for a Wisconsin football team that struggled to produce any explosive plays in the passing game last season.

His journey began at Miami, where he made an impactful debut as a redshirt freshman in 2021, earning ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. His season was noteworthy, amassing 2,931 passing yards with 25 touchdowns — thrusting him onto the NFL’s radar. However, subsequent changes in the coaching staff affected his gameplay, impacting his stats in the following seasons.

Nevertheless, his resilience and talent shone through, as evidenced by his impressive rebound in 2023, accumulating 2,703 yards and 19 touchdowns, including 12 interceptions, which is the part that worries me.

Van Dyke’s arrival at Wisconsin football signals a new chapter for the team, placing him at the helm as the undisputed starting quarterback for the upcoming season. Despite his distinct playing style not aligning with the other skill sets in the program, Van Dyke being a priority offers a promising glimpse into what the Badgers think they can be on offense next season.

With his prowess in pushing the ball downfield and quick decision-making abilities, there’s potential for Van Dyke to elevate the team’s offense, but how much is up for debate.

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