Michael Dyer was part of the quarterback-running back tandem that took college football by storm in 2010 and now he looks to do the same with Louisville in 2013.
Auburn won the 2010 BCS National Championship with a deadly combination of Cam Newton and Michael Dyer. Dyer, back then a freshman, rushed for over a thousand yards at an average of 6.0 on the season, whilst also being named MVP of the championship game with 143 yards on 22 carries.
Dyer continued to live up to the self-created hype when he rushed for over a thousand yards once again, but was suspended and subsequently released from his scholarship when it came to light that Dyer had provided a gun to teammates who were involved in an armed robbery. During the 2012 season Dyer remained out of football as he received an associates degree from Arkansas Baptist College. The 2013 supplement draft beckoned for Dyer but he decided to return to college football and clear his name. Enter the Louisville Cardinals.
Everybody has heard of the Cardinals’ star quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, who led his men to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory over no.3 Florida just seven months ago. However, something extra was needed to push the underdogs from the AAC a step further and Charlie Strong believes he has found his man.
The five-foot-nine, 210 pound Dyer is a ball of muscle who runs low to the ground. He is extremely difficult to tackle with a lethal first cut and plenty of yards after contact. Dyer is more than just a reliable half-back. He relentlessly pounds the rock and will inspire his compatriots when the going gets tough. 15 rushing touchdowns and 2,335 in two FBS seasons speak for themselves. To best sum up Dyer’s abilities would be to call him a first-round talent.
Bridgewater had an incredible season a year ago making it easy to forget he was only a sophomore. With his top three favourite wideouts returning in 2013 and a feature back behind him he will only get better. It will be impossible for Louisville to be one-dimensional, which was a threat before Dyer was offered a scholarship.
In 2012 Jeremy Wright and Senorise Perry carried the load for the Cardinals. The addition of Dyer comes as a major improvement over both. Perry was the more talented of the ’12 backs, but a torn ACL in November leaves questions over how effective he will be in his senior season.
Adding Dyer has seriously upped the ante in the race for the bowl-season. Louisville will have every belief that they can push for the grand prize in Pasadena come January.