Miami exodus begins: QB Tyler Van Dyke one of four Hurricanes to enter transfer portal

The Miami Hurricanes exodus has begun.

University of Miami fourth-year junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will enter the transfer portal, Van Dyke announced Monday night.

Van Dyke posted the following on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I want to thank the University of Miami, my teammates, coaching staff, and everyone associated with the University who have made this chapter in my life truly special and invaluable. I have created lifelong friendships and memories, which I will always cherish. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities and experiences that have shaped me during my time here. After conversations with my family, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.

“I am looking forward to the next chapter and what my future holds.’’

The NCAA’s transfer portal will officially open for a 30-day window beginning Monday, Dec. 4, a day after UM (7-5) learns its bowl destination to end this season.

Van Dyke, 6-4 and 230 pounds, is from Glastonbury, Connecticut. He played in 32 games over his career, with 27 starts. He completed 581 of 912 passes (63.7 percent) for a career 7,469 yards and 54 touchdowns, with 23 interceptions.

Also Monday, fourth-year linebacker Corey Flagg and fourth-year running back Don Chaney Jr. announced they will enter the portal. Additionally, the Herald learned through a source that fifth-year defensive end Jahfari Harvey will transfer as well.

Van Dyke is entering the portal with the intention of leaving, as opposed to merely seeing if there is a better opportunity elsewhere, the source indicated. NCAA rules allow players to return to their original program if the coaching staff will take them back. Miami is expected to pursue a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal. Among the top options: Kansas State’s Will Howard and Mississippi State’s Will Rogers.

Rogers has one season of eligibility left, and has 12,315 passing yards in four seasons, second all-time for the SEC. Rogers has thrown 94 touchdowns, with 28 interceptions.

For now, Van Dyke’s departure means that sophomore quarterback Jacurri Brown, who has not played this season, is the only healthy scholarship quarterback on the roster. If Brown doesn’t transfer, he’d be the starter for the yet-to-be-determined bowl game.

‘Figure it out’

On Monday morning, Miami coach Mario Cristobal told WQAM that he was “super proud’’ of Van Dyke’s latest performance, but that “he’s gotta figure it out, man,” in terms of any football-related decisions.

Cristobal indicated he’d be ready to act, if necessary, once he knows Van Dyke’s intentions.

“You know, we’re not going to dance around it or BS it or be in any way, shape or form delicate about the approach,’’ Cristobal said. “We gotta move forward and certainly want to be respectful and do what’s best for everybody, but for the Miami Hurricanes first.”

Van Dyke was the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, but dealt with multiple injuries — some severe —and was never able to sustain the high-level of success over the entirety of his past two seasons.

Injuries

Rated as high as No. 2 nationally in passing efficiency earlier this season, Van Dyke is now No. 42, though his decline coincided with injuries he sustained to his right knee, ribs and back during a road loss Oct. 14 at North Carolina.

Last year he missed much of the second half of the season with a third-degree AC joint sprain of his right, throwing shoulder.

Van Dyke was benched and replaced as the starter by true freshman Emory Williams on Nov. 11 at No. 4 Florida State after Van Dyke had thrown 10 interceptions in the previous four games. UM lost by a touchdown to FSU, and Williams sustained a compound fracture of his left, nonthrowing arm in the game.

Van Dyke regained his starting job the next week against No. 9 Louisville. UM fell 38-31 to Louisville, but Van Dyke played well, finishing 24 of 39 (61.5) for 327 yards and a touchdown, with no turnovers. Van Dyke then played very well in the regular-season finale last Friday, a 45-20 win at Boston College. He finished 23 of 36 (63.9 percent) for 290 yards and two touchdowns.

Van Dyke’s 2023 numbers: 219 of 333 (65.8) for 2,703 yards and 19 touchdowns, with 12 interceptions.

There has been wide speculation that Van Dyke might transfer to SMU, which is coached by former UM offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Lashlee was Van Dyke’s coordinator/quarterbacks coach when Van Dyke was named the 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year.

Van Dyke said he’d make the decision on his football future with his family.

“Yeah. I think it’s a decision everyone makes with their family, no matter what situation you’re in,’’ he said last week, “whether it’s taking a new job in the corporate world or whatever. You talk to people that you’re close to and see what the best options for you are I guess.”

The others

Flagg, from Houston, was an outspoken, hard-working, intelligent player who always seemed to produce more than was expected for his 6-0, 230-pound frame. He finished his four years with 23 starts in 43 games, amassing 179 tackles, 24 1/2 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception.

This season, Flagg started two games and was fourth on the team with 42 tackles. He had seven tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Chaney, a former consensus four-star prospect and U.S. Army All-American out of Miami Belen Jesuit, was ranked the fifth-best running back and 35th player nationally in the 247Sports Composite when he came to Miami in 2020. But as blessed as he was with talent, he also had injury misfortunes. He missed most of his second (2021) and third (2022) seasons after a major right-knee injury in early September 2021, and a hip injury last season.

Gregarious and ever positive, Chaney came back strong this season, though he was still hampered by injuries at times. He rushed for 478 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries in 11 games this year for a 5.1-yard-per-carry average.