Wisconsin transfer quarterback visits College Football Playoff participant

Wisconsin transfer quarterback visits College Football Playoff participant

Wisconsin transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is visiting SMU this weekend, according to a report from 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Van Dyke entered the portal last month after one season with the Badgers. He played just two full games before a Week 3 knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He’s in the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal offers, visits and commitments

Van Dyke is reportedly visiting an SMU program that is fresh off an 11-1 2024 regular season and College Football Playoff appearance — it fell 38-10 to Penn State in the first round.

There is a connection to note: Van Dyke’s best collegiate season came as a redshirt freshman at Miami — 62% completion, 2,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator that year was Rhett Lashlee. He’s now SMU’s head coach after taking the job in 2022.

Van Dyke’s career was plagued by inconsistent play after Lashlee’s departure, including during his limited action in a Wisconsin uniform. Many are intrigued by the idea of a possible reunion.

One significant variable in SMU’s pursuit of Van Dyke: Mustangs starting quarterback Kevin Jennings is set to return for the 2025 season. He excelled leading the team in 2024, completing 65% of his passes for 3,245 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, plus taking 101 carries for 354 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Van Dyke may have to compete for the starting job if he is to commit.

Wisconsin’s offseason to date is headlined by the additions of transfer quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr. (Maryland) and Danny O’Neil (San Diego State). The two are set to enter 2025 as the team’s starter and backup, respectively. Luke Fickell and his staff reshaped the room after the offseason departures of Van Dyke, Locke (committed to Arizona) and Mabrey Mettauer (committed to Sam Houston State). It projects to be one of the team’s strengths under new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes.

It will be interesting to see where Van Dyke lands and the caliber of his performance. A stellar final season would reignite the ‘what-if’ surrounding the veteran quarterback’s early-season injury and its affect on former coordinator Phil Longo’s tenure with the program.

For more, bookmark our tracker of where former Wisconsin transfers are landing.

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