To say that Michael Dyer’s life on and off the football field has gone downhill over the past couple of years would be the understatement to end all understatements.
Now, though, the the former running back swears he’s a changed man.
Speaking to ESPN.com‘s Joe Schad, Dyer stated that he "[wants] a chance to show people my character is better than it was in the past.” Two years removed from this level, Dyer is hoping to get one last shot with an FBS program.
“I want to clear my name,” Dyer told Schad. “I understand the reasons I am in this situation. I placed myself here. I take responsibility. ...
Unfortunately for Dyer, but understandably at the same time, no FBS program from automatic qualifying conferences has shown the least bit of interest.
“I understand their reasoning of not taking me,” Dyer said. “It’s been very, very hard. But I’m not the same person I was. I’ve changed. I’ve grown up.”
The fact that no top-tier team wants to take a chance on the talented but troubled player is hardly surprising.
In January of 2011 as a freshman, Dyer was named the offensive MVP of Auburn’s BCS title game win. After rushing for 1,000 yards each of his first two seasons with the Tigers, Dyer was “granted a release from his scholarship” in January of 2012, one month after he was suspended for the Tigers’ appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl for failing multiple drug tests. He transferred to Arkansas State that same month in a reunion with former AU offensive coordinator and then-ASU head coach Gus Malzahn; six months later, he was dismissed by Malzahn for “undisclosed violations of team rules.”
In August of 2012, Dyer landed at Arkansas Baptist, where he sat out the football season to focus on academics.
In April of this year, it was reported that Dyer would take a visit to TCU. Shortly after a report surfaced that Dyer “should’ve” been declared academically ineligible for the BCS title game against Oregon, that visit was scuttled. That same month, Dyer expressed an interest in playing for Arkansas, although the Razorbacks did not reciprocate the interest.
The glimmer of hope for Dyer is that, according to his uncle, two FBS programs have shown interest. One of those, Western Kentucky, is coached by former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino. The Sun Belt’s Troy is the other FBS team, while FCS-level Illinois State is another to show interest.
If Dyer is unable to find a new football home at the collegiate level, he will likely make himself available for the NFL’s supplemental draft this month.