The news broke Monday evening that Miami starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was entering the transfer portal, ending his four-year Hurricanes career.
The move leaves the Hurr
Quarterbacks who are transferring (former school in parentheses)
Will Howard (Kansas State)
One of the top quarterbacks to enter the portal, Howard excelled in Manhattan, Kansas, and led Kansas State to a Big 12 title in 2022. Howard played four seasons for the Wildcats, racking up 5,786 passing yards with 48 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He grew into one of the Big 12’s top quarterbacks this year, passing for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns with 10 picks. Howard is also a threat with his legs, rushing for 351 yards and nine scores this season.
Howard had a 78.1 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus with a 71 passing grade and a 79 running grade. He has one year of eligibility left, so he could serve as a good stopgap for a season while Brown, Williams and Anderson develop.
Max Johnson, (Texas A&M)
Johnson is in the portal, looking for his third school after playing at Texas A&M and LSU. He started for the Tigers as a sophomore, throwing for 2,815 yards, 27 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Johnson started three games in 2022, but suffered a season-ending injury. He lost a quarterback battle to five-star quarterback Conner Weigman at the start of this season. He took over as the Aggies’ starter again after Weigman suffered a season-ending injury. Johnson played in nine games, throwing for 1,452 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions before a rib injury ended his season.
Johnson, who has two years of eligibility, has some Miami ties; he is former Hurricanes coach Mark Richt’s nephew. He is also the son of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson. However, he has been linked closely to North Carolina.
Nate Johnson (Utah)
Johnson is an intriguing option. The former Utes quarterback was one of two options to replace injured starter Cam Rising, battling with Bryson Barnes.
Johnson started the season as the backup, then won the job, then lost it again. In eight games, Johnson had 499 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 235 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Unlike other options, Johnson likely would not be declared the starting quarterback the day he walked on campus. But with three years of eligibility, he could be a developmental option.
Will Rogers, (Mississippi State)
The former Bulldog could be a premier target for the Hurricanes. There are reports of mutual interest between UM and Rogers before Van Dyke decided to remain at Miami last offseason.
Rogers, the only SEC quarterback with more than 1,000 career completions, was a four-year starter at Mississippi State. He excelled in late coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, passing for 8,713 yards combined in 2021 and 2022 and racking up 71 touchdowns in those two seasons.
Rogers did not put up prolific numbers when former Bulldogs coach Zach Arnett changed up the offense this season, and he had 1,626 yards and 12 touchdowns this year.
Rogers could make a lot of sense for Miami, considering offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is an Air Raid-style coach, though he does not run the same style Air Raid as Leach. Pro Football Focus gave Rogers a 74.8 offensive grade and a 74.4 passing grade. In 2021, he earned an 89.9 offensive grade with a 90.4 passing grade.
Rogers has one year of eligibility left.
Tyler Shough (Texas Tech)
Like Max Johnson, Shough is looking for his third school after an injury-limited 2023. Shough played for Cristobal at Oregon, taking over as the starter after Justin Herbert left for the NFL.
Shough threw for 1,559 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2020, but transferred to Texas Tech after the season. His three seasons with the Red Raiders have all been limited by injuries, including a broken fibula this season.
Shough has one more year of eligibility.
icanes with two scholarship quarterbacks on their roster: sophomore Jacurri Brown and freshman Emory Williams. Brown did not play during the regular season, and Williams suffered a season-ending arm injury in a start against Florida State.
Miami holds a commitment from three-star 2024 quarterback Judd Anderson, who is expected to join the team next year.
The Hurricanes will likely add a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal — one who can compete and likely take over as the starter next year.
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