Painful NFL Draft just ended for Miami, but two Canes projected as 2023 first-rounders
The painful, exhausting 2022 NFL Draft for the Miami Hurricanes is over, and analysts have immediately turned to 2023, prognosticating the college football players who will go highest when the draft is held April 27-29 in Kansas City.
The Hurricanes’ lone player drafted this past weekend, defensive tackle Jonathan Ford, went 13th in the seventh-and-final round to the Green Bay Packers, extending the University of Miami’s 48-year draft streak. But the only two players projected to be taken — safety Bubba Bolden and receiver Charleston Rambo— never heard their names called, instead signing as undrafted free agents.
Hope and reality don’t always align, but two Hurricanes are mentioned repeatedly to be taken in the first round next year. They are quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and the man who will be protecting his blind side, left tackle Zion Nelson.
Van Dyke, who will be a third-year sophomore next season, had an extraordinary 2021 season, earning ACC Rookie of the Year and completing 202 of 324 passes (62.3 percent) for 2,931 yards, with six interceptions in 10 games. He ended with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes in each of his last six games, becoming the first Power 5 quarterback to do so in six consecutive games in a single season since former LSU Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow did it in 2019.
All three of the mock first-round drafts included have Van Dyke projected to go to the Carolina Panthers — thedraftscout.com projecting him as No. 6, 247sports as No. 7 and thedraftnetwork.com No. 8.
Profootballnetwork.com, which rated the “23 NFL Draft quarterback draft prospects, separated them into categories, with Van Dyke in the “Tier 3 Elite Talents with something to prove.
“Van Dyke is abolutely ready to vault into the top 10 draft-eligible quarterbacks,’’ according to Proffotballnetwork.com. “His arm is terrific and he throws with excellent anticipation and trust in his football. It’s a fantastic combination, and Van Dyke may just have the chance to showcase his full skill set this fall in Miami.’’
Thedraftnetwork.com’s Way-Too-Early 2023 NFL Mock Draft’s first round said Van Dyke “was a revelation for the Hurricanes in 2021 and has the makings of an early selection at quarterback.”
And 247Sports’ “Way-too-early first round predictions” said Van Dyke “has big-time arm talent to go with accuracy and poise which allows him to make all the big boy throws. If Van Dyke can pick up where he left off in 2022, he can cash out after next season.’’
Zion Nelson
As for the 6-5, 316-pound Nelson, the wisest move he made was choosing to return to the Hurricanes next season after being projected a first-rounder by some in the same type of mock drafts one year ago, The Sporting News has Nelson going 11th in 2023 to the Pittsbugh Steelers in its first-round mock draft.
The Sporting News also has Nelson, who started all 12 games in 2021, as its 14th-best player available for 2023, regardless of position.
The Hurricanes (7-5 in 2021) were ranked 19th of 130 FBS teams in total offense (448.8 yards per game) and 10th in passing offense (321.2).
“There’s a good bet the Steelers will try to land a franchise left tackle to better pass-protect Kenny Pickett in Year 2,’’ per The Sporting News. “Nelson’s athleticism is first-round caliber and expect him to get stronger in college as he made a wise decision to delay his pro entry.’’
Nelson was already a college football anomaly when he started all 13 games at left tackle out of high school in 2019. After the latest season, Pro Football Focus rated Nelson as the 10th best returning tackle in college. “Nelson’s return to the U is fantastic news for quarterback Tyler Van Dyke because the 6-foot-5, 316-pound tackle has developed into one of the best pass-protectors in the country.’’
WalterFootball’s Charlie Campbell has Nelson drafted 21st and taken by the Houston Texans in his 2023 mock draft, and thedraftscout.com has him drafted at 28th to the Detroit Lions.
