No. 1 running back Michael Dyer on choosing Auburn: `It was like home'
Friday, November 6, 2009
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By Charles Goldberg -- The Birmingham News
November 06, 2009, 2:30PM
MichaelDyerRivals.JPGMichael Dyer (AuburnSports.com photo)Michael Dyer called it a hectic week, but one of the final stops was easy as it could be.
The nation's No. 1 prep running back said Friday morning he'll play college football at Auburn. He made his choice public at his high school. An hour later, he said he knew all along where he'd go.
The Little Rock Christian High School standout said he told Auburn coaches he would commit after a visit to campus last summer, and stuck to his word.
"It was like home,'' Dyer said by telephone.
Dyer is rated the No. 1 running back in the nation by ESPN. Scout says he's No. 2. Rivals has him at No. 3. Auburn is also actively recruiting the other two tops backs: Marcus Lattimore and Lache Seastrunk.
Dyer is Arkansas' all-time prep leading rusher with 7,566 career rushing yards and 74 touchdowns. He had college offers from most of the top programs.
Auburn had a leg up recruiting Dyer because he already knew offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn from his days coaching at Tulsa. That three-year relationship paid off for Auburn on Friday. Dyer also said running backs coach Curtis Luper played a significant role in his recruitment.
Dyer can't think about Auburn too much the rest of the day: He still has a high school game tonight when Little Rock Christian plays Pulaski Academy at 7 on ESPNU.
That's another reason Dyer says it's been a "hectic and busy'' week.
"My mind was all over the place with school. But last night I thought about it and woke up this morning and knew what I needed to do.''
Dyer took an official visit to Tennessee last weekend. He didn't rule out making other recruiting trips, and said he'd talk with Auburn coaches about that.
But he added Friday morning he's ``100 percent Auburn. I'm a War Eagle now.''
Dyer called Friday's announcement "a good little deal'' with his football teammates, parents and "a lot of media in attendance.''
An hour after that, Dyer was thinking about the job at hand.
"I'm just focusing on the game now,'' he said.