Former Auburn Running Back Michael Dyer Transferring, 2013 Draft Stock Rising
Former Auburn running back Michael Dyer may be on the move again.
After being released from scholarship at Auburn, Dyer landed at Arkansas State under his former offensive coordinator and Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn. Now that's rumored to be changing.
According to two sources within the Pittsburg State University football program, Dyer is headed to Division II, where he will likely be able to play in 2012 under NCAA transfer rules. The NFL draft is within sight for Dyer, who will be three years removed from his high school graduation in time for the 2013 NFL draft, but rehabilitating his draft stock will be the focus here.
Dyer follows a similar situation as former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was kicked off the Gators' football team and landed at North Alabama, where he was able to play for one season before heading to the NFL draft—where he became an early second-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams. Like Jenkins, Dyer's transfer stems from the reasoning that in order to keep his draft stock high, it's important to keep playing.
Pitt State may not be Auburn, but they did take home the Division II National Championship last season and will give Dyer a marquee small-school platform to play for. The talent level isn't great, and Dyer will have the ability to produce large numbers, which will keep his name in the headlines throughout the season.
The 2012 draft featured several Division II players being drafted high, notably Jenkins and guard Amini Silatolu. Making the jump from D2 to the NFL isn't impossible, especially when playing for a high-profile program such as Pitt State.
The key for Dyer is playing well enough to get an invite to the NFL scouting combine. If he can produce and if Pitt State makes another playoff run, Dyer's chances of going from preseason Top 50 player to 2013 NFL draft pick are great.
If Dyer can match his 1,242 yards from 2011 and put up the same type of impact he did during the national championship game from the 2010 season, Dyer will put Pitt State on the map (again) for the 2012 season and rehabilitate his stock as a legitimate feature back for the NFL.
The bottom line for Dyer is that if he wants to play in the NFL during 2013, he needs to transfer and get on the field as soon as possible. If Dyer is certain he wants to play college football again, he can and should stay at Arkansas State. Logic would say that this is a player who is ready for the NFL after his two monster seasons at Auburn. Playing one season at Arkansas State leaves little to gain after a full season sitting on the bench.
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