In what was many Hurricanes fans’ first time seeing 2020 Suffield Academy (CT) 4-star QB Tyler Van Dyke throw, the Miami commit exceeded even the highest expectations for him at Paradise Camp this weekend. Van Dyke went a perfect 8 for 8 in 7-on-7 play, using the entirety of the field, leading receivers, and fitting the ball into tight windows with great velocity.
“I felt like I performed pretty well,” Van Dyke said. “During the 7-on-7’s, I completed every pass, so I felt like I was on fire, felt like I threw better than in the 1-on-1’s, but I was just getting warmed up. Just went in there in the 7-on-7’s and lit it up, but that’s normal. I can always do better.”
Not only was Van Dyke cooking on the field, but he was hot off of it at Paradise as well. One of Miami’s quieter commits in terms of media activity, Van Dyke developed himself a reputation for being a recruiter at the event, talking up guys like 2020 OT Chris Washington and 5-star TE Darnell Washington to try and get them to commit to the Canes; Chris later did just that. Van Dyke felt he furthered his bond with Miami ATH commit Xavier Restrepo as well.
“I was just trying to get a good connection with all of them,” Van Dyke said. “Get Darnell to come to the U and then just to start a good connection with Xavier, get a good bond between us, so that’s what we did.”
Of course, probably the biggest target on campus was Darnell Washington. Van Dyke and Washington were paired up on the same 7-on-7 team and Van Dyke noticeably went to the big Las Vegas tight end often. Afterwards, Van Dyke told Washington that they’d break records together in college.
“We’re definitely building this relationship between us, it’s just the start though,” Van Dyke said of Washington. “I’m going to keep talking to him and telling him why Miami is the best place to be. Just going to keep talking to him and get him here.”
While Van Dyke has worked with his future offensive coordinator Dan Enos before, it wasn’t as extensive as what Enos threw at him this weekend.
“Well he came up to my school and I threw for him a couple times. He was giving me tips and telling me what to throw,” Van Dyke said of Enos. “This is the first time where I got to learn route concepts, him telling me where to go with the ball, the coverages, and stuff like that. It was definitely good for me to learn from him.”
The 6-4 210 pound prospect enjoyed the star power that Miami and head coach Manny Diaz brought to Paradise in the form of UM’s past great athletes, and Van Dyke felt the former Cane he connected most with was a Heisman winner.
“Probably Gino Toretta. It was cool just listening to his story,” Van Dyke said. “He would also give me advice on my footwork after I threw the ball, so that was very cool. He was a Heisman obviously, it was very cool getting to learn from him. That was probably my favorite former Cane to talk to and get advice from.”
What was his overall take from Paradise weekend in Coral Gables?
“It was awesome, just all the great recruits coming down,” Van Dyke said. “Especially Friday night, that’s where everybody talked to each other and made connections and then Saturday night obviously the camp. For me, it was just about making connections with Darnell and Xavier. Just throwing the ball to them, getting a good feel for Xavier in the next coming years and hopefully Darnell as well. It was a really good atmosphere.”
Van Dyke’s parents made the trip down south with him as well, and they have come to really love what the Miami program has to offer.
“They love it,” Van Dyke said. “So, I went down with my mom and my dad in March, then came back down with my dad in April. This is my first time coming back since then. It was good for them to see everything, meet some of the recruits and some of the parents too. Just to get a good feel, just the vibe, the people, and stuff like that.”
Since committing to Miami on that last trip in April, Van Dyke has been a solid commitment to the Canes and hasn’t visited other schools. Speaking on what made him pull the trigger for Miami originally, Van Dyke felt that it was the UM coaching staff and the program’s ability to win a national title that set them apart from his other offers.
“It was coach Enos and coach Diaz, and all the coaches - and also coach (David) Feeley,” Van Dyke said. “Just they’re all great people, I can go talk to any of them, talk about anything and have a great conversation with them. Also, coach Enos’ offense, what he did at Arkansas and then Alabama last year, there was no way I could say no to that and being in Miami. Then, they could also win a national title with all the talent they got, so there was no question about that for me.”
The Connecticut gunslinger’s trip to UM this weekend was his first since he committed. Did the visit reaffirm all the reasons he committed to Miami in the first place?
“After going down, meeting everybody, I feel very comfortable with my decision,” Van Dyke said. “I’m 100% committed.”
With his college decision in the books, Van Dyke is now free to focus on the fun stuff: just playing ball. Major news involving Van Dyke broke recently when it came to light that he would participate in the 2019 Elite 11 and the Opening Finals held in Texas beginning this weekend.
“Well at first they had their original 20, then Brian Stumpf told me I was the next guy up if they needed anybody, I was the 21st guy,” Van Dyke said. “I guess somebody couldn’t make it and he called me about two weeks ago and told me there was a spot open.”
Van Dyke will be paired with fellow Miami commit in RB Don Chaney on the same 7-on-7 roster and hopes to make more headway with Darnell Washington at the event.
“I’m just going to go there and compete and learn from the best coaches, try to build a better connection with Don and hopefully a couple other kids,” Van Dyke said. “I know Darnell is going to be there so I’m going to keep talking to him. I'm just going to go compete against the best quarterbacks in the country and do my best.”
At the Opening New Jersey Regional, Van Dyke recorded a 4.91 40-yard dash, a 4.29 shuttle time, and a 27.60 inch vertical.
“I felt like I performed pretty well,” Van Dyke said. “During the 7-on-7’s, I completed every pass, so I felt like I was on fire, felt like I threw better than in the 1-on-1’s, but I was just getting warmed up. Just went in there in the 7-on-7’s and lit it up, but that’s normal. I can always do better.”
Not only was Van Dyke cooking on the field, but he was hot off of it at Paradise as well. One of Miami’s quieter commits in terms of media activity, Van Dyke developed himself a reputation for being a recruiter at the event, talking up guys like 2020 OT Chris Washington and 5-star TE Darnell Washington to try and get them to commit to the Canes; Chris later did just that. Van Dyke felt he furthered his bond with Miami ATH commit Xavier Restrepo as well.
“I was just trying to get a good connection with all of them,” Van Dyke said. “Get Darnell to come to the U and then just to start a good connection with Xavier, get a good bond between us, so that’s what we did.”
Of course, probably the biggest target on campus was Darnell Washington. Van Dyke and Washington were paired up on the same 7-on-7 team and Van Dyke noticeably went to the big Las Vegas tight end often. Afterwards, Van Dyke told Washington that they’d break records together in college.
“We’re definitely building this relationship between us, it’s just the start though,” Van Dyke said of Washington. “I’m going to keep talking to him and telling him why Miami is the best place to be. Just going to keep talking to him and get him here.”
While Van Dyke has worked with his future offensive coordinator Dan Enos before, it wasn’t as extensive as what Enos threw at him this weekend.
“Well he came up to my school and I threw for him a couple times. He was giving me tips and telling me what to throw,” Van Dyke said of Enos. “This is the first time where I got to learn route concepts, him telling me where to go with the ball, the coverages, and stuff like that. It was definitely good for me to learn from him.”
The 6-4 210 pound prospect enjoyed the star power that Miami and head coach Manny Diaz brought to Paradise in the form of UM’s past great athletes, and Van Dyke felt the former Cane he connected most with was a Heisman winner.
“Probably Gino Toretta. It was cool just listening to his story,” Van Dyke said. “He would also give me advice on my footwork after I threw the ball, so that was very cool. He was a Heisman obviously, it was very cool getting to learn from him. That was probably my favorite former Cane to talk to and get advice from.”
What was his overall take from Paradise weekend in Coral Gables?
“It was awesome, just all the great recruits coming down,” Van Dyke said. “Especially Friday night, that’s where everybody talked to each other and made connections and then Saturday night obviously the camp. For me, it was just about making connections with Darnell and Xavier. Just throwing the ball to them, getting a good feel for Xavier in the next coming years and hopefully Darnell as well. It was a really good atmosphere.”
Van Dyke’s parents made the trip down south with him as well, and they have come to really love what the Miami program has to offer.
“They love it,” Van Dyke said. “So, I went down with my mom and my dad in March, then came back down with my dad in April. This is my first time coming back since then. It was good for them to see everything, meet some of the recruits and some of the parents too. Just to get a good feel, just the vibe, the people, and stuff like that.”
Since committing to Miami on that last trip in April, Van Dyke has been a solid commitment to the Canes and hasn’t visited other schools. Speaking on what made him pull the trigger for Miami originally, Van Dyke felt that it was the UM coaching staff and the program’s ability to win a national title that set them apart from his other offers.
“It was coach Enos and coach Diaz, and all the coaches - and also coach (David) Feeley,” Van Dyke said. “Just they’re all great people, I can go talk to any of them, talk about anything and have a great conversation with them. Also, coach Enos’ offense, what he did at Arkansas and then Alabama last year, there was no way I could say no to that and being in Miami. Then, they could also win a national title with all the talent they got, so there was no question about that for me.”
The Connecticut gunslinger’s trip to UM this weekend was his first since he committed. Did the visit reaffirm all the reasons he committed to Miami in the first place?
“After going down, meeting everybody, I feel very comfortable with my decision,” Van Dyke said. “I’m 100% committed.”
With his college decision in the books, Van Dyke is now free to focus on the fun stuff: just playing ball. Major news involving Van Dyke broke recently when it came to light that he would participate in the 2019 Elite 11 and the Opening Finals held in Texas beginning this weekend.
“Well at first they had their original 20, then Brian Stumpf told me I was the next guy up if they needed anybody, I was the 21st guy,” Van Dyke said. “I guess somebody couldn’t make it and he called me about two weeks ago and told me there was a spot open.”
Van Dyke will be paired with fellow Miami commit in RB Don Chaney on the same 7-on-7 roster and hopes to make more headway with Darnell Washington at the event.
“I’m just going to go there and compete and learn from the best coaches, try to build a better connection with Don and hopefully a couple other kids,” Van Dyke said. “I know Darnell is going to be there so I’m going to keep talking to him. I'm just going to go compete against the best quarterbacks in the country and do my best.”
At the Opening New Jersey Regional, Van Dyke recorded a 4.91 40-yard dash, a 4.29 shuttle time, and a 27.60 inch vertical.
