NFL Draft prospect Tyler van Dyke suffers potential career-ending injury in Alabama loss

Tyler van Dyke had started his final season in college football strongly after transferring from Miami to Wisconsin in the hopes of reviving his NFL Draft hopes, but a cruel injury looks like it might have ended his college career... and maybe even his chances in the NFL.

Van Dyke chose to leave Miami after a less than spectacular two years under head coach Mario Cristobal, coming off the back of his 2021 season which saw him elevated into the conversation as a future first-round draft pick. But back-to-back subpar years in a struggling offense saw him take an opportunity in Wisconsin - where many had been excited to see him play.

The 23-year-old led the Badgers to two straight wins before facing an extremely tough test against Alabama, with the quarterback making an impressive start when throwing five passes for five completions. But after scrambling for a first down, Van Dyke was tackled going out of bounds before pulling up with a knee injury and later being seen on crutches.

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Wisconsin thinks that Van Dyke's injury is a serious one after losing the quarterback in the first quarter and going on to being blown out by the Crimson Tide - with him looking likely to be ruled out for the season which would bring an end to his college career.

The school's head coach, Luke Fickell, said: "We’ll get a little more clarity hopefully here soon, get an MRI and things like that. I don’t think it looks real good for us, for him."

In a quarterback class that NFL Draft scouts and analysts believe to be weak, Van Dyke could have elevated himself into the conversation as a mid-to-early-round pick if he had continued to impress throughout the 2024 year.

If Van Dyke has suffered a serious knee injury as feared, he could be out for several months which would likely rule him out from performing in the likes of the Senior Bowl or Shrine Bowl - a game in which players in their final year of eligibility are able to play against each other in the hopes of impressing NFL teams to be given an opportunity in the league.

The quarterback, who will be 24 once the NFL Draft process roles around next year, will hope that he has done enough in his career to earn an opportunity should he indeed be ruled out for the rest of the year.

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