Tyler Van Dyke gives advice to fellow quarterback Jacurri Brown

Miami returns 2021 starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who assumed the role as a redshirt freshman after D’Eriq King went down with injury in Week Three. Van Dyke went on to throw for 2,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions to earn ACC Rookie of the Year honors. He enters 2022 as the unquestioned starter and a potential first-round NFL Draft pick.

It’s certainly a quick turnaround for someone who was playing the backup role this time last year, which is why he’s so willing to give advice to the quarterbacks in the room sitting under him this year, including true freshman Jacurri Brown.

“Yeah, I mean Jacurri [Brown] is going to be a good player,” Van Dyke said after the first day of fall camp. “For him, he just has to throw the ball and not think about it and just let it rip. I had those struggles when I came in a little bit, even sometimes last year toward the end of the year, so for him it’s just being poised and just not thinking about it and letting it rip.”

Brown, a consensus four-star recruit the No. 18 quarterback in the 2022 class. A dual-threat player, Brown threw for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for over 2,000 the past two years at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. He was was an early enrollee this spring, where first-year head coach Mario Cristobal said he was impressed with how he managed to fit in so quickly.

The The 6-foot-4, 211-pound signal caller previously committed to the ‘Canes under previous coach Manny Diaz in March over offers from Arizona State, Auburn, Arkansas, Florida and others. And in the midst of weeks and months of rumors about Diaz’s job status – and eventual firing – Brown has stayed on board on his pledge to Miami and has a great relationship with his new head coach.

“[Diaz] brought in Jacurri Brown, who joins us as the most prolific passer and winner in Georgia high school history,” Cristobal said. “A phenomenal athlete and human being who joins these guys. Got here as an early enrollee, which is always fun. It’s like getting dropped off in some place where you have to learn to get to know everybody and know processes. The simplicity of attaining a Cane card is as difficult as you can imagine. But Jacurri has adapted really well and he’s ready to roll, so we feel great about that room.”