STATE OF THE U 2023: QB analysis

CaneSport continues its State of The U series with a closer position by position look, unfiltered and objective, based on what Miami has returning, the projections and whether this will be an improved unit or not.

We begin with Miami’s quarterback position:

OVERVIEW

Tyler Van Dyke will be the starter for a third season, and he’s hoping to reclaim the magic that made him the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 vs. the step back he took in a plodding Josh Gattis offense last season (and one in which a midseason injury essentially ended his year). Behind him is a battle for the backup job between second-year Jacurri Brown and true freshman Emory Williams. Brown got his opportunities last year when Van Dyke was injured but struggled with accuracy; Williams came in this spring and showed good accuracy and poise for a young player. But he still has to pick up on the intricacies of the college game under Shannon Dawson. As of now you have to think Brown has the inside track to be No. 2, but he’ll have to show more consistency with his accuracy in fall drills or he will be passed by.

BIGGEST QUESTION

The backup QB. That’s going to be a really interesting situation since it won’t just be important in case Van Dyke is banged up again but could form the framework of who starts once Van Dyke heads to the pros. Brown has to show improvement in his accuracy, which he started to do in spring drills before a step backward in the Spring Game. And Williams must show he’s mastered the Dawson offense and knows what to do each and every play call … and that the moment won’t be too big for him on the big stage. Don’t underestimate the importance of this battle. As you saw last year, once Van Dyke was injured there really was no consistent playmaking behind center.

BOLD PREDICTION

That Van Dyke throws for more than 30 TDs with fewer than 10 INTs and leaves early for the NFL. He has an NFL arm and pro skills but was hampered last year by a sieve of a Miami offensive line that ranked No. 108 in the nation in sacks allowed per game (3.0). With time to throw he already has displayed the accuracy, arm talent and decision-making where if the receivers are open he will find them. Which brings us to the WR room. That group struggled last year as well but the addition of highly touted true freshman Ray Ray Joseph, who looked explosive in the spring, plus 4.24-second 40 guy Tyler Harrell from Alabama in the transfer portal should pay dividends. Add in Colbie Young, Jacolby George and a healthy Xavier Restrepo plus the tight ends and the sky is the limit for what this offense can accomplish. Van Dyke also would have put up 30+ TDs in a full season two years ago (he threw 25 TDs with nine starts), so there’s no reason not to think it can happen.

PROJECTION: POSITION WILL BE BETTER/WORSE THAN LAST YEAR?

First let’s take a look back. Van Dyke started eight games for Miami last year and threw just 10 TDs with five INTs in an offense that floundered badly. The O line couldn’t protect him or open holes in the run game, receivers weren’t able to get open consistently and the whole thing just fell apart. Once Van Dyke went down it was Jake Garcia and Brown splitting opportunities, with neither emerging. Garcia threw five TDs with four INTs and transferred out after the season; Brown had three TDs and three picks and didn’t look comfortable in the pocket. He had most of his success on designed runs and scrambles with 223 rush yards. Which brings us to this year. It’s a reshaped offensive line that added Alabama LG transfer Javion Cohen, UCF transfer center Matt Lee and a pair of 5-star signees in OTs Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola. The receivers didn’t lose any personnel and added speedster Tyler Harrell from Alabama, JUCO WR Shemar Kirk and true freshmen Ray Ray Joseph and Robby Washington. With Josh Gattis gone and a hybrid Air-Raid attack being installed, it’s hard to imagine this QB-friendly system not reaping immediate dividends for Van Dyke. We expect a big difference in the results from this position vs. what we saw a year ago when all the QBs combined had 18 TD passes and 12 INTs. 2022 GRADE … C-; 2023 PROJECTED GRADE … A

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