Auburn Releases RB Michael Dyer From His Scholarship Following Suspension

Auburn Sophomore and All-SEC Tailback Michael Dyer was released from his scholarship on Friday and is free to transfer, although the release was "conditional" meaning he is prohibited from transferring to certain schools. It has been widely speculated that Dyer, an Arkansas native, will transfer to Arkansas State to follow the Red Wolves new head coach Gus Malzahn who was Dyer's offensive coordinator at Auburn.

Dyer is a supremely talented back who topped 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons (including breaking Bo Jackson's Freshman rushing record) and was named MVP of last year's BCS National Title Game, a performance crowned by an iconic run in the 4th Quarter that put Auburn in position to hit the game-winning FG (see below). After a down year for an extremely young Auburn team in 2011 it appeared for all the world that Dyer and the Tigers were set to rebound in 2012. I suspected Dyer to be a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and top NFL prospect in 2012 as a Junior next year but he was suspended for unspecified reasons by head coach Gene Chizik before Auburn's 43-23 victory over Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

I was lucky enough to have and inside source who is familiar with both Dyer and Arkansas State who informed me that that running back had a number of ongoing problems with Gene Chizik and wanted to play for Gus Malzahn instead. My source also reported that he wanted to be closer to his elderly grandmother in Arkansas who is ailing and is petitioning the NCAA to for a "hardship waiver" that would allow him to become immediately eligible to play (typically a player must take a red-shirt year after transferring). If granted Dyer would make an immediately impact for the Sun Belt Champion Red Wolves who will finish their season this Sunday against Northern Illinois in the GoDaddy.com Bowl after a 10-2 regular season.